Stamicarbon B.v.

Johannes E Claassens

Sijbrandus E Schaafsma

Egidius J Verheijen

Johannes H Hofman

Delta-keto-esters such as 4-oxopentane-1-carboxylic acid methyl ester and the like, are prepared in the presence of a primary amine, a Schiff base, or both, by reacting a ketone having at least one hydrogen atom in the alpha position and an alpha-beta unsaturated carboxylic acid ester in the presence of an acid according to the disclosed invention.

Preparation of delta-keto-esters

Process for the preparation of resorcinols of the general formula: ##SPC1## Wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4, which are the same or different, are each hydrogen or an alkyl group containing up to 6 carbon atoms, and the total number of carbon atoms of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 is no more than 12 carbon atoms, which comprises contacting keto esters of the general formula ##EQU1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are as defined above, and R.sub.5 is an alkyl, cycloalkyl, or monocyclic or bicyclic aryl or arylalkyl group containing up to 12 carbon atoms, with a dehydrogenation catalyst at a temperature of about 100.degree.C to 500.degree.C.

Preparation of resorcinol and alkyl-substituted derivatives thereof

Process for the preparation of cyclohexane-1,3-diones of the formula ##SPC1## Wherein R.sub.1 -R.sub.8, which are the same or different, are each hydrogen or an alkyl group containing up to 6 carbon atoms and the total number of carbon atoms of R.sub.1 -R.sub.8 is not more than 12 carbon atoms, comprising contacting in the gaseous state a delta-keto ester of the formula ##EQU1## wherein R.sub.1 -R.sub.8 are as defined above and R.sub.9 is an alkyl, cycloalkyl, or monocyclic or bicyclic arylalkyl or aryl group containing up to 12 carbon atoms, with a thermally stable solid material having an internal surface area of from about 100 tot 1500 m.sup.2 /gm. at a temperature of from 100 .degree.C to 500 .degree.C.

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Heerlen, Netherlands

Johannes E Claassens