PURPOSE: To obtain the titled compound useful as medicines, agricultural chemicals and perfumes and an intermediate therefor in high yield, by reacting a benzyl alcohol derivative with carbon monoxide and water, an alcohol or phenol.
CONSTITUTION: A compound formula I (R1 is alkoxyl, aryloxy, OH or NH2; R2 and R3 are H, alkyl, aryl, halogen or R1; R4 is H or alkyl) is reacted with CO, water, an alcohol or phenol in the presence of a Pd catalyst containing a halogen group atom, a trivalent phosphorus compound and amine, etc. as a ligand, and consisting of a Pd complex containing 0-Wbivalent Pd at 40W150°C under ≥10kg/cm2, preferably 20W150kg/cm2 pressure to give the aimed compound of formula II (R5 is H, alkyl or aryl). An acidic compound, e.g. an inoranic acid or organic acid, preferably hydrogen halide, can be used as a cocatalyst to accelerate the reaction rate.
IWANE HIROSHI
KUJIRA KATSUFUMI
Next Patent: JPS5995239