PURPOSE: To obtain the title compounds which are useful as raw materials of musk perfumes, etc., easily, industrially, in high yield, by the heat treatment of 6,6'- methylenebis (6-hexanolide) under hydrogen pressure in lower alkanols in the presence of a metal catalyst and an acid catalyst.
CONSTITUTION: The title compounds of formula I are easily produced by the heat treatment of a compound of formula III under hydrogen pressure in alcohols of formula ROH (R is lower alkyl) in the presence of a metal catalyst, particularly a metal of the VIII group of the periodic table, and an acid catalyst, particularly a strong-acid type cation-exchange resin or p-toluenesulfonic acid. The compound of formula III can be produced in high yield by the reaction of a peracid, particularly peracetic acid, with a compound of formula II, which can be produced easily from a raw material available at low cost as a petrochemical product, in a halogenated organic solvent in the presence of an alkali carbonate. The title compounds of formula I have various uses as raw materials of various polymers and plasticizers as well as musk perfumes.
KOBAYASHI TOYOHIKO
TSURUTA HARUKI
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