Preparation of alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

摘要

Alpha, beta carbonyl compounds are prepared from an acid anhydride selected from the group consisting of glutaric anhydride and 3-alkyl glutaric anhydride, and a beta-hydroxy carbonyl compound having the following chemical formula: R2COH-CHR-CRO or R2COH-CHR-CN where each R is any substitutent group. The process comprises: (a) reacting the acid anhydride and the beta-hydroxy carbonyl compound in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of an acid catalyst to form an ester; (b) reacting the ester in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a base catalyst to form a alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl compound and a carboxylic acid; and (c) separating the alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl compound and the carboxylic acid.