SUBSTITUTION OF AROMATIC ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

摘要

The present invention provides a process for the preparation of compounds of the general formula …… wherein A represents the residue of an aromatic ring forming the whole or a part of a monocyclic or polycyclic, at least partially-aromatic, carbocyclic and/or heterocyclic ring system, optionally bearing one or more other substituents inert to the reactants here employed, and R represents an optionally-substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or benzyl group having up to 12 carbon atoms. According to the process of the invention such compounds are prepared by causing an aromatic compound of the general formula: …… wherein A is as defined above and X represents a chlorine, bromine or iodine atom, to react with an alcoholate of the general formula: …… in which M represents an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal atom; n is the valency of M; and R is as defined above, in the presence of a catalytically-effective amount of an active catalyst mixture comprising:… (i) a formic acid ester of an aliphatic organic alcohol having the general formula:… R<2>-O-CO-H (V)… in which R<2> represents an optionally-substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or benzyl group having up to 12 carbon atoms; and… (ii) a cuprous salt;… in a liquid medium which is a solvent for the catalyst mixture and in which the compound of formula II is at least partially soluble, under substantially anhydrous conditions and a nonoxidising atmosphere, to yield the desired corresponding compound of formula VI.