Enichem Synthesis S.p.a

Oreste Piccolo

Ugo Romano

Federico Maspero

Salvatore Gambino

A new process is described for the preparation of a 2-aryl-propionic acid, such as for instance 2-[4-(2-methyl-propyl)phenyl]propionic or 2-(6'-methoxy-2'-naphthyl)propionic acid, through hydrogenation of a complex salt which consists of the mono- and/or di-valent anion of the corresponding 2-hydroxy-2-aryl-propionic acid, a di- or tri-valent metal cation, such as for instance Al(+3), Fe(+3), Zn(+2), or Mg(+2), and optionally other anonic or neutral ligands. This new process is particularly advantageous in that the starting salt can be obtained directly via electrocarboxylation of the corresponding aryl methyl ketone, e.g. 4-(2-methyl-propyl)acetophenone or (6-methoxy-2-naphthyl) methyl ketone, with metal anodes which dissolve during the electrolysis.

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Como, Italy

Oreste Piccolo