Process for the Preparation of Tetronic Acid

摘要

Tetronic acid of following Formula (2):
is industrially efficiently prepared through a reaction of 4-hydroxy- or 4-alkoxy-acetoacetic acid or an ester thereof of following Formula (1):
wherein R 1 and R 2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, by carrying out the reaction in the presence of an organic solvent and an acid but substantially in the absence of water. Product tetronic acid is useful as an intermediate for fine chemicals such as pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, and semiconductor resist polymers.