PURPOSE: To selectively hydroformylate only vinyl group by reacting 1- vinyl-4-(2,2-dimethylethenyl)benzene with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a transition metal complex carbonylation catalyst under specific conditions.
CONSTITUTION: 1-Vinyl-4-(2,2-dimethylethynyl)benzene is reacted with CO and H2 in the presence of a transition metal complex carbonylation catalyst under conditions of 40-150°C, preferably 55-110°C reaction temperature and 10-600kg/cm2, preferably 50-300kg/cm2 total pressure of the CO and H2 to selectively hydroformylate only one (vinyl group) of unsaturated groups in the above- mentioned raw material. Thereby, α-[4-(2,2-dimithylethenyl) phenyl]propionaldehyde useful as an intermediate for α-(4-isobutylphenyl) propionic acid (trade name; Ibuprofen) excellent in anti-inflammatory effects is selectively obtained.
MATSUMURA YASUO
TOKUMOTO YUICHI
UCHIDA KAZUMICHI
