Ube Industries, Inc.

Takuji Enomiya

Sumio Umemura

Mamoru Nakai

Takato Nakamura

Hiroshi Shiraishi

Nagaaki Takamitsu

A phenylacetone or its derivative having the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein X, Y, and Z are independently a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, a nitro group, an amino group, a lower alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a lower alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a benzyloxy group and any two substituents of X, Y, and Z may form, together with the benzene ring, a heterocycling ring having 5 to 7 members including 1 or 2 oxygen atoms is produced at a high yield and a high selectivity by reacting a 3-phenylpropylene or its derivative having the general formula (II): ##STR2## wherein X, Y, and Z are as defined above, with an alkyl nitrite having the general formula (III):

Process for producing phenylacetones

A process for preparing protocatechualdehyde or a 3-alkoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde which comprises subjecting catechol or a 2-alkoxyphenol to reaction with glyoxylic acid in a basic aqueous medium in the presence of a catalyst containing one or more compounds selected from aluminium oxide, silicon oxide and hydrated aluminium oxide in an amount of not less than 0.01 g per 1 g of the starting catechol or 2-alkoxyphenol at a temperature of 0.degree. to 50.degree. C., and then oxidizing the thus obtained reaction mixture in a basic medium.

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Ube, Japan

Takuji Enomiya