Showa Denko K.k.

Showa Denko Kabushiki Kaisha

Takashi Tani

Makoto Saito

Takashi Ueda

Hiroshi Yasuda

Kuniomi Marumo

Haruaki Ito

Sumio Soya

Kimitaka Ohshiro

Disclosed is a process for preparing a &#x3b2;-diketone compound such as 2,6-dimethyl-3,5-heptanedione, which comprises reacting an ester compound such as an alkyl isobutyrate with a ketone compound such as 3-methylbutanone in the presence of an alkali metal alkoxide as a catalyst. The process comprises a step 1 in which an ester compound CRRRCOOQ is reacted with a ketone compound CRRRCOCHRusing an alkali metal alkoxide catalyst to give a &#x3b2;-diketone compound CRRRRCOCHRRR. (In the formulae, Ris hydrogen or an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms while others are each independently hydrogen or an alkyl group of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and at least one of Rto Ris hydrogen.)

Processes for preparing &#x3b2;-diketone compound, metal complex thereof and metallic compound

Disclosed is a process for preparing 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione, comprising reacting a pivalic acid alkyl ester with pinacolone in the presence of an alkali metal alkoxide catalyst using a pivalic acid alkyl ester as a solvent but using no other solvent or reacting them in an amide type or urea type solvent in the presence of an alkali metal alkoxide catalyst. Also disclosed is a process for preparing a 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanesione metal complex using the 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione obtained by the above process. The process for preparing 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione is an industrially advantageous process in which an alkali metal alkoxide that is easy to handle can be used as a catalyst for preparing 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione from a pivalic acid alkyl ester and pinacolone.

Process for preparing &#x3b2;-diketone compound and process for preparing metal complex thereof

A process for producing a cyanobenzoic acid compound, a cyanobenzamide compound, an alkyl cyanobenzoate compound, and a cyanobenzoyl chloride compound, which are useful intermediates for a variety of chemicals such as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, liquid crystals, and monomers for functional polymers. One nitrile group of an easily available phthalonitrile compound is selectively hydrolyzed to thereby produce a cyanobenzamide compound with high selectivity and yield. The cyanobenzamide compound thus-produced is transformed under acidic conditions into a cyanobenzoic acid compound and a cyanobenzoate ester compound without the cyano group of the benzene ring being damaged.

Process for producing cyanobenzoic acid derivatives

Growing community of inventors

Kanagawa, Japan

Takashi Tani