Processes for the preparation of macrocyclic ketones

摘要

Disclosed are a process of subjecting a diester of a long-chain dicarboxylic acid having 18 to 21 carbon atoms to intramolecular condensation in the presence of titanium tetrachloride or zirconium tetrachloride and a trialkylamine to form an alpha-alkoxycarbonylated macrocyclic ketone, and a process for producing a macrocyclic ketone by hydrolyzing an alpha-alkoxycarbonylated macrocyclic ketone obtained by the process and then subjecting the hydrolyzate to decarboxylation. The invention provides a process for producing a macrocyclic ketone efficiently, which permits high concentration synthesis.