Method for producing (hydroxyalkyl)alicyclic carboxylic acids and intermediates therefor

摘要

(Acyloxyalkyl)aromatic carboxylic acids are produced by partial oxidation of an alkyl-substituted aromatic compound of the general formula CHR<1>R<2> - Ar - (R<3>)n in which Ar is an aromatic ring; R<1> is H or alkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R<2> is H, alkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms or -OCOR<5>; R<3> is alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, -COOH, -CHO, -CH2R<4> or -COOR<5>; n is an integer from 1 to 5; R<4> is halogen, -OH or -OCOR<5>; and R<5> is alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and a carboxylic acid in the presence of oxygen and a catalyst including an element of Group VIII of the Periodic Table. (Hydroxyalkyl)alicyclic carboxylic acids are produced by hydrolysis/hydrogenation or hydrogenation/hydrolysis of the (acyloxyalkyl) aromatic carboxylic acids.