PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF STILBENEDICARBOXYLATE ESTERS

摘要

Disclosed is a process for the preparation of 4,4'-stilbenedicarboxylate esters by a 4-step process starting with an alkyl p-formylbenzoate and utilizing intermediate phosphite and phosphonate compounds. The steps comprise: (1) preparing an alkyl p-(hydroxymethyl)benzoate by hydrogenating an alkyl p-formylbenzoate; (2) contacting the alkyl p-(hydroxymethyl)benzoate of step (1) with a trialkyl phosphite to obtain a phosphite ester compound having formula (IV); (3) contacting the phosphite ester of step (2) with a catalytic amount of iodine to rearrange the phosphite ester to the corresponding phosphonate ester; and (4) contacting the phosphonate ester compound of step (3) with an alkyl p-formylbenzoate in the presence of an alkali metal alkoxide and an inert solvent to obtain the dialkyl 4,4'-stilbenedicarboxylate.