METHOD FOR PRODUCING IBUPROFEN

摘要

A method is provided for the preparation of ibuprofen by carbonylating 1-(4'-isobutylphenyl)ethanol (IBPE) with carbon monoxide comprising initially a reaction mixture comprising IBPE, ibuprofen and a catalyst for the carbonylation with carbon monoxide under conditions to initiate the reaction, and continuing to feed carbon monoxide to the composition to produce the desired yield of ibuprofen. Preferably the catalyst comprises palladium and a monodentate phosphine ligand. The presence of ibuprofen in the feed composition when the reaction is initiated with CO makes it possible to obtain high selectivities to ibuprofen with substantially complete conversion of IBPE at much shorter reaction times than if no ibuprofen is present initially.