thebean - 24-10-2013 at 18:27
So, I've got a whole lot of butane and I want to think of something to do with it (other than use it as fuel for my torch). I was thinking
photochlorination but I don't know how logical that would be.
deltaH - 25-10-2013 at 01:36
Hi thebean, the modern industrial synthesis of maleic anhydride is carried out by the partial oxidation of butane at high
temperatures over a V(V)/POx heterogeneous catalyst. You can read more about this here:
Kurt Lohbeck; Herbert Haferkorn; Werner Fuhrmann; Norbert Fedtke (2005), "Maleic and Fumaric Acids", Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry,
Weinheim: Wiley-VCH, doi:10.1002/14356007.a16_053
However, this is difficult and dangerous reaction and certainly not a backyard concept, I just thought you might find it interesting as a reaction
that uses butane specifically as the reactant.
[Edited on 25-10-2013 by deltaH]