PURPOSE: To obtain a new alicyclic dicarboxylic acid and its diester useful as a monomer raw material or an additive for polyesters for optical materials, structural materials, etc.
CONSTITUTION: An alicyclic dicarboxylic acid expressed by formula I, an alicyclic dicarboxylic acid diester expressed by formula II (R is a 1-4C alkyl), an alicyclic cis-dicarboxylic acid expressed by formula III, an alicyclic dicarboxylic cis-dicarboxylic acid diester expressed by formula IV, an alicyclic trans-dicarboxylic acid expressed by formula V or an alicyclic trans-dicarboxylic acid diester expressed by formula VI. A hexacyclo[6. 6. 1. 13.6. 110.13, 02.7, 09.14]-4-heptadecene of the formula VII is used as a starting raw material and double bond part of the compound is subjected to oxidative cleavage using an oxidizing agent to provide the objective compound of formula III. The compound of formula III is further esterified to provide the objective compound of formula IV. The compound of formula IV is reacted with metal alkoxides as a catalyst and isomerization of the compound of formula IV is carried out so that the ester groups mutually form trans configuration to provide the objective compound of formula VI. The compound of formula VI is hydrolyzed to provide the objective compound of formula V.
KOBAYASHI HIDEKI