Process for preparing acids via alpha-chloroepoxy esters

摘要

A process for preparing substituted cyclohexanoic acids of formula (i) where Ra is a carbon-containing group optionally linked by oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen to the cyclohexyl ring and j is 1-10; and R and R*are independently but not simultaneously hydrogen, or C(O)E where E is OR14 or SR14 where R14 is hydrogen or alkyl of 1-6 carbon atoms; which process comprises treating an epoxide of Formula A with dimethyl sulfoxide and an alkali metal salt (see specification for description of the variables of formula A).