PURPOSE: To provide a new method for obtaining an acetal having excellent economic value and versatility by contacting an olefin with an alcohol in the presence of a palladium catalyst and copper in an oxygen atmosphere in liquid phase in the presence of carbon monoxide.
CONSTITUTION: The objective acetal (e.g. 2-cyanomethyl-1,3-dioxane) is produced by contacting an olefin (e.g. ethylene or acrylonitrile) with an alcohol (e.g. methanol or ethylene glycol) in the presence of a palladium catalyst (optionally supported on a carrier such as activated carbon or silica gel) and a copper catalyst in an atmosphere consisting of oxygen and carbon monoxide at an (O2: CO) volume ratio of (100-1):1, preferably (50-5):1 in an inert solvent (e.g. THF or benzene) at 20-150°C (preferably 50-100°C) in liquid phase.
KO NANSEI
URATA HISAO
