PRODUCTION OF ((1-PHENYLETHENYL) PHENYL) PROPIONIC ACID AND/OR ITS ESTER

摘要

PURPOSE:To produce the title compound of high purity which is used as an intermediate of medicines and agrochemicals, efficiently and economically by dehydrogenating 1-phenyl-1-ethylphenyl-ethane in an inert gas through a specific process followed by hydroesterification. CONSTITUTION:1-Phenyl-1-ethylphenyl-ethane of formula I is brought into contact with an iron oxide and/or chromium oxide dehydrogenation catalyst at 400-650 deg.C in an inert gas atmosphere to give a reaction mixture containing 1-phenyl1-ethylphenyl-ethylene of formula II and 1-phenyl-1-vinylphenyl-ethylene of formula III. Then, the product is allowed to react with carbon monoxide and water and/or 1-4C lower alcohol in the presence of a palladium carbonylation catalyst at 40-200 deg.C and over 5kg/cm<2> pressure to effect selective hydroesterification of the compound of formula II into [(1-phenylethenyl)phenyl] propionic acid.