PROCESS FOR PRODUCING PHENYLACETONES

摘要

A phenylacetone or its derivative having the general formula (I): (I) wherein X, Y, and Z are independently a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, a nitro group, an amino group, a lower alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a lower alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a benzyloxy group and any two substituents of X, Y, and Z may form, together with the benzene ring, a heterocycling ring having 5 to 7 members including 1 or 2 oxygen atoms is produced at a high yield and a high selectivity by reacting a 3-phenylpropylene or its derivative having the general formula (II): (II) wherein X, Y, and Z are as defined above, with an alkyl nitrite having the general formula (III): RONO(III) wherein R is an aliphatic, aromatic, or alicyclic saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group in the presence of (a) water, (b) an alcohol, (c) a palladium catalyst, and (d) an optional amine or copper compound, or by reacting the above-mentioned 3-phenylpropylene or its derivative with the above-mentioned alkyl nitrite in the presence of (a) an alcohol, (b) a palladium catalyst and (c) an optional amine or copper compound to form 1-phenyl-2,2-dialkoxypropane or it derivative having the general formula (IV): (IV) wherein X, Y, Z and R are as defined above, followed by hydrolyzing the reaction product.