PROCESS FOR PREPARING PHTHALIDES

摘要

A process is disclosed for preparing phthalides by cathodic reduction of phthalic acid or phthalic acid derivatives, in which the carboxylic acid units may be substituted by units which can be derived by a condensation reaction from carboxylic acid units and in which one or several hydrogen atoms of the o-phenylene unit of the phthalic acid m ay be substituted by inert radicals. This process is characterised in that the reduction is carried out in an organic solvent which contains le ss than 50 wt % water and in a non-divided electrolytic cell.