PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF 2-(SUBSTITUTED BENZOYL)-1,3 CYCLOHEXANEDIONES

摘要

PCT No. PCT/GB96/00081 Sec. 371 Date Jun. 24, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Jun. 24, 1997 PCT Filed Jan. 16, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO96/22957 PCT Pub. Date Aug. 1, 1996A process for preparing a compound of formula (I), where R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are independently hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl; R7 is halogen, cyano, NO2, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 haloalkyl, C1-4 alkoxy or RaS in which Ra is C1-4 alkyl; R8, R9 and R10 independently are hydrogen, halogen, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkoxy, C1-4 haloalkyl, C1-4 haloalkoxy, CN, NO2, phenoxy or substituted phenoxy; RbS(O)n Om in which m is 0 or 1, n is 0, 1 or 2 and Rb is C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 haloalkyl, phenyl or benzyl, NHCORc in which c is C1-4 alkyl, NRdRe in which Rd and Re independently are hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl; RfC(O)- in which Rf is hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 haloalkyl or C1-4 alkoxy; SO2NRgRh in which Rg and Rh independently are hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl; or any two of R8, R9 and R10 together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a 5 or 6 membered heterocyclic ring containing up to three heteroatoms selected from 0, N or S and which may be optionally substituted by C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 haloalkyl, C1-4 alkoxy, =NOC1-4 alkyl, or halogen; which process comprises the rearrangement of a compound of formula (II), where R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9 and R10 are as defined in relation to formula (I), in the presence of a base and a polar aprotic solvent characterized in that the process is carried out in a reaction medium substantially free of hydrogen cyanide or cyanide anion. (I) (II)