PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF 2-(SUBSTITUTED BENZOYL)1,3 CYCLOHEXANEDIONES

摘要

A process for preparing a compound of formula (I), where R<1>, R<2>, R<3>, R<4>, R<5> and R<6> are independently hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl; R<7> is halogen, cyano, NO2, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 haloalkyl, C1-4 alkoxy or RaS in which Ra is C1-4 alkyl; R<8>, R<9> and R<10> independently are hydrogen, halogen, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkoxy, C1-4 haloalkyl, C1-4 haloalkoxy, CN, NO2, phenoxy or substituted phenoxy; RbS(O)n Om in which m is 0 or 1, n is 0, 1 or 2 and Rb is C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 haloalkyl, phenyl or benzyl, NHCORc in which Rc is C1-4 alkyl, NRdRe in which Rd and Re indenpendently are hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl; RfC(O)- in which Rf is hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 haloalkyl or C1-4 alkoxy; SO2NRgRh in which Rg and Rh independently are hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl; or any two of R<8>, R<9> and R<10> together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a 5 or 6 membered heterocyclic ring containing up to three heteroatoms selected from O, N or S and which may be optionally substituted by =NOC1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 haloalkyl, C1-4 alkoxy or halogen; which process comprises the rearrangement of a compound of formula (II) where R<1>, R<2>, R<3>, R<4>, R<5>, R<6>, R<7>, R<8>, R<9> and R<10> are as defined in relation to formula (I), in a non-polar solvent in the presence of a cyanide source, an alkali or alkaline earth metal carbonate, a phase transfer catalyst and 1-6 moles of water with respect to the compound of formula (II).