Carbonylation of aryl-methyl halides - by treating with carbon monoxide, metal carbonyl cpd. and basic alkaline earth metal cpd.

摘要

Carbonylation of arylmethyl halides of formula (R)n-A-CH2X (where A is an aromatic hydrocarbyl gp. contg. one or two condensed benzene rings; R is 1-4C alkyl, (opt. substd. by nitro or alkoxy), 1-4C alkoxy, halogen, nitrile, nitro or alkylcarbonyloxy; X is halogen; n is 0-3, when A has one benzene ring or 0-5 when A has two condensed benzenr rings) is effected in order to form the corresponding phenylpyrivic acids or arylpyrivic acids with carbon monoxide at a press. of 5-200, esp. 2-100 bars, in a liq. solvent medium, in the presence of a metal carbonyl cpd., and a basic alkaline earth metal cpd. Gives good yields of the desired acids. Easily effected on an industrial scale. As intermediates in the prepn. of the corresponding alpha-amino acids and alpha-hydroxy acids, these cpds. being useful in biochemistry.