PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF CARVONE

摘要

Carvone can be prepared by catalytic oxidation of limonene with 0.001-0.2 equivalent palladium or a salt thereof in the presence of a reoxidising agent such as a copper salt and a salt of a non-transition metal, for example sodium carbonate, in an organic solvent, the yield being improved if the oxidation is carried out in one step in the presence of oxygen and water. The presence of an acid results in a further improvement.