2,850,528 United States Patent Office Ratiented Sept. 2, 1958 2 valent elements, particularly the alkali and alkaline earth metals, especially sodium. Thus, a particularly pre 2,850,528 ferred compound of my invention is a-sodio-sodium ace ORGANOMETALLIC COMPOUNDS tate. In certain instances, one or both of the remaining hydrogen atoms on the ox-carbon atom can be substituted Rex D. Closson, Northville, Mich., assignor to Ethyl with lower alkyl radicals, especially those having 3 carbon Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Del atoms or less, and these compounds will likewise exhibit aware, w the superior characteristics of the structure containing No Drawing. Application June 21, 1954 only 2 carbon atoms. Serial No. 438,357 The novel compositions of my invention have the char acteristic of being stable under atmospheric conditions 5 Claims. (C. 260-54) and at elevated temperatures, especially the o-sodio-so dium acetate. The stability of the O-metallo-metallic acetates surprisingly is superior to that of the a-sodio This invention relates to novel compositions of matter sodium caproate and the ox-sodio-ethyl acetate compounds and in particular to novel organometallic compounds in of the prior art. Another particular advantage of this. which the ce-carbon atom of a metal salt of an organic invention is that it provides o-metalio-metallic organic acid is substituted with a metal. salts essentially free of other organometallic compounds Certain o-metallic substituted organic salts have been which cannot be readily separated therefrom and hinder, set forth in the literature. In particular, c-sodio-sodium. by competing reactions, many processes in which they caproate has been reported as being formed when react can be employed. Consequently, my compounds are of ing sodium caproate concurrently with sodium and amyl considerably more utility in various reactions and in fact chloride in benzene. These workers produced butyl ma can be handled in air without the danger of rapid de lonic acid along with caproic acid when passing carbon composition. Some hydrolysis of my compounds is dioxide through the above reaction mixture. Another caused by moisture in air, although this hydrolysis is compound which has been reported as being an interme quite slow. diate in this process is ox-sodio-sodium phenyl acetate. To the best of my knowledge, these investigators have The following examples describe methods of preparing not isolated, nor have they made any attempt to deter my compounds and certain physical characteristics. - mine. particular characteristics of these compounds ex Example I cept for their probable formation as intermediates in the To a container flushed with nitrogen was added 7.8 preparation of the substituted malonic acids. In addi parts of finely divided sodium amide and 24.6 parts of tion, other workers have suggested the formation of c finely divided anhydrous sodium acetate. The mixture sodio-ethyl acetate by the reaction of triphenylmethyl so was agitated in order to obtain a uniform distribution dium with ethyl acetate. These prior art compounds of particles. From the container the mixture. was fed have the particular disadvantage of being unstable under intermittently over a period of one hour to a reaction atmospheric conditions and at elevated temperatures. As vessel previously heated to a temperature of about 180 a result of my work in this field, I have discovered novel C. which was also flushed with nitrogen. The reactions compositions of matter which possess unexpected stabil vessel was equipped with means for agitation and inlet ity and are of particular benefit to the art as a basic raw and outlet ports. The feed to the vessel was such that material in the preparation of various chemicals. the temperature was maintained between 180 and 235 C. It is an object of the present invention to provide new and the reaction mixture was continuously agitated. Am and novel compositions of matter. A particular object monia was evolved. The ammonia was absorbed in a is to provide O-metallo-metallic salts of organic acids, 5 2 N solution of hydrogen chloride. At the compietion particularly acetic acid. A still more specific object of 4. of the addition to the reactor, the ammonia evolution had this invention is to provide the novel composition o essentially ceased and the heat was removed. The prod sodio-Sodium acetate. These and other objects will be uct a-sodio-sodium acetate, free of other organometallic apparent as the discussion proceeds. compounds, remained in the reaction vessel and was re The above and other objects are accomplished by pro covered therefrom. Titration of the hydrogen chloride viding novel oz-metallo-metallic salts of organic acids. 50 solution indicated a yield of product of 89.5% based on The novel products I especially prefer are the oz-metallo the sodium amide. metallic acetates. Thus, these compounds are compounds Example II in which the ionic structure This run was conducted essentially the same as that - - - - O 55 described above wherein the same quantity of sodium amide was employed, 40 parts of sodium acetate was em Yoe ployed, and the temperature varied between 173 to 240° C. The total reaction time was 40 minutes. Determina is satisfied by mono or polyvalent metallic ions. My tion of the amount of ammonia absorbed in the hydro novel compositions can be depicted by the formula 60 gen chloride solution indicated a yield of greater than e' 99% based on the sodium amide. The product remain M. CH-C M'. ing in the reaction vessel was white and did not decom N pose upon heating to 375 C. O To establish the identity of the product, 38.6 parts of wherein M and M can be the same or different and are n-octyl bromide were added to the product obtained in monovalent or polyvalent metallic elements, and x, y, and Example I, and about 50 parts of n-nonane were added z are Small whole numbers which can be the same or as a diluent to the mixture. This mixture was refluxed different. The metallic elements can have valences of for about 6 hours and solids which formed were filtered 1 to 4 inclusive, and x, y, and z can be 1 to 4 inclusive. off. The solid product was dissolved in water and acidi It will be evident that the values of x, y, and z will de 70 fied. A yellow oil then separated which was extracted pend upon the valences of the metallic elements, M and with ether three times. A yellow product, decanoic acid, M. The metallic elements preferred are mono and di was recovered by evaporating the ether therefrom. This 2,850,528 3. 4. product melted at about 27 C., whereas decanoic acid tate; ox-strontio-strontium acetate; and ox-bario-barium melts at 31° C. A portion of this acid was treated with acetate. Other novel compositions of my invention are thionyl chloride and then with aniline in benzene solution. o-Sodio-beryllium acetate; cysodio-magnesium acetate; a The solid material obtained after removal of the benzene Sodio-calcium acetate; oz-Sodio-strontium acetate; and ot was recrystallized and found to have a melting point of Sodio-barium acetate. Likewise, compounds in which 61.5 to 62.5° C., whereas the melting-point of the anilide the other alkali metals-that is, lithium, potassium, etc., of decanoic acid is reported to be 620 C. A second por replace 'sodio” in the latter examples, will be evident tion of the acid was treated with an excess of thionyl as being among my novel compositions. In addition, chloride and then with anhydrous ammonia in benzene other novel compositions include, for example, ox-calcio solution. The ammonium chloride was removed by filtra O sodium acetate and the like compounds in which the tion and the benzene evaporated. The crystalline prod "calcio" is replaced with other alkaline earth metals and uct remaining was twice recrystallized from methanol. the “sodium' is replaced with other alkali metals. The resulting product had a melting point between 97.2 The foregoing examples are the compositions which I and 98.4 C., whereas the melting point of capric amide prefer. I especially, prefer ox-sodio-sodium acetate pri is reported in the literature as being 98 C. Thus, it 5 marily because of the greater availability and reactivity of has been established that oz-Sodio-sodium acetate was sodium. prepared. Other compounds encompassed by this invention are, Example III for example, co-sodio-aluminum acetate; orpotassio oz-Lithio-sodium acetate is prepared by reacting essen cadmium acetate; ox-calcio-cerous acetate; ox-lithio-chro tially stoichiometric quantities of lithium amide with an 20 mium acetate; ox-cesio-cupric acetate; ox-sodio-ferrous hydrous sodium acetate. acetate; cz-Sodio-lead acetate; ox-potassio-manganese ace Example IV tate; oz-Sodio-mercuric acetate; o-potassio-nickel acetate; oz-Sodio-potassium acetate is prepared by reacting, anhy a-sodio-silver-acetate; co-sodio-thallium acetate; oz-Sodio 25 titanium acetate; a potassio-zinc acetate; and the like drous potassium acetate with sodium amide essentially a-metallo-metallic acetates. W . as described in Example I at a temperature of about The novel compositions of this, invention have the 250° C. Reaction proceeds, smoothly to produce the unique characteristic of being stable. As pointed out, product in good yield and purity. a-sodio-sodium acetate does not decompose even attem Example V peratures above about 375 C. Consequently, these oz-Sodio-zinc acetate is prepared in good yield by re 30 unique materials are of particular benefit to the artin. acting sodium amide with anhydrous zinc acetate ac that they provide a comparatively basic chemical from cording to the procedure of Example I.