Shell Research Limited

John E Hawes

Robert J Pryce

Sheetal Handa

A process for preparing a ketone of the general formula: ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent a C.sub.1-6 alkyl or C.sub.6-12 aryl group, and R represents an alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, heterocyclic or carboxylic group, which process comprises reacting a carboxylic acid having the general formula I in which R represents a hydroxy group with a lithium compound to form the corresponding lithium salt of the carboxylic acid; reacting the lithium salt so-obtained with thionyl chloride to yield an acyl chloride having the general formula I in which R represents a chlorine atom; reacting the acyl chloride so-obtained with a secondary amine to yield an amide having general formula I in which R represents a secondary amino group; and reacting the amide so-obtained with an organometallic reagent to yield the ketone having general formula I.

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Sittingbourne, United Kingdom

John E Hawes