Allyl Acetate

Other routes for obtaining glycerol are also based on propylene. It can be produced from allyl chloride or from acrolein and isopropanol. Like vinyl acetate from ethylene, allyl acetate is produced by the vapor phase oxyacylation of propylene. The catalyzed reaction occurs at approximately 180°C and 4 atmospheres over a Pd/KOAc catalyst:

Allyl acetate is a precursor for 1,4-butanediol via a hydrocarbonylation route, which produces 4-acetoxybutanal. The reaction proceeds with a Co(CO)₈ catalyst in benzene solution at approximately 125°C and 3,000 pounds per square inch. The typical mole H₂/CO ratio is 2:1. The reaction is exothermic, and the reactor temperature may reach 180°C during the course of the reaction. Selectivity to 4-acetoxybutanal is approximately 65% at 100% allyl acetate conversion.