1997. LARSON, A. T. (E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.). Aliphatic Esters. United States Patent 2,135,450, Nov. 1, 1938; appl. filed Dec. 13, 1935, Serial No. 54,324; 20 claims (Cl. 260-496). Chem. Abs., vol. 33, 1939, p. 992.

For the production of an ester such as MeOAc or Et propionate, an aliphatic ether such as Me₂O or Et₂O is condensed with CO in the presence of a halide of an amphoteric element such as BF₃ or of elements which on hydrolysis form weak bases to give an ester under elevated pressure, an aliphatic ether being added to the reaction mixture and the ester formed is distilled from the resulting solution.