Process for preparing pyrazolecarboxylic acid compounds

Abstract

A process for preparing a pyrazolecarboxylic acid compound of the formula (II): ##STR1## wherein Y and Z each represent a hydrogen, a halogen, a nitro, a cyano, COOR.sub.1, NR.sub.1 R.sub.2, CONR.sub.1 R.sub.2, SR.sub.1, SO.sub.2 NR.sub.1 R.sub.2, SO.sub.2 R.sub.3, R.sub.3 CO, OR.sub.4, CHX.sub.2 or CX.sub.3 ; A represents a hydrogen, an alkyl having 2 to 4 carbons, a phenyl, a pyridyl or OR.sub.5 ; where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represent a hydrogen or an alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons; R.sub.3 represents an alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons; R.sub.4 represents a hydrogen, an alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons, a phenyl, CHF.sub.2, CF.sub.3 or CF.sub.3 CH.sub.2 ; R.sub.5 represents an alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons; and X represents a halogen, which comprises oxidizing a pyrazole compound of the formula (I): ##STR2## wherein Y, Z and A have the same meanings as above, by contacting the compound of formula (I) with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a metal catalyst at 20.degree. to 200.degree. C., the partial pressure of the oxygen-containing gas being from atmospheric pressure to 80 kg/cm.sup.2 and the metal catalyst is in an amount of 0.1 to 20 gram-atom based on 100 moles of the compound of formula (I) and is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of iron compounds, cobalt compounds, nickel compounds, manganese compounds, cerium compounds and zirconium compounds.