PURPOSE: To high selectively obtain the subject compounds by reacting a silicate with a lower-alkylene oxide in the presence of a specified Lewis acid and a tertiary amine compound and subsequently hydrolyzing the resultant reaction product using water or a lower alcohol.
CONSTITUTION: A compound of the formula (R1O)4Si (R1 is 1-5C alkyl) is reacted with a compound of formula I (R2 and R3 are H or CH3) in the presence of a Lewis acid composed of an Al, Zn or Ti compound such as AlCl3, ZnCl2, TiCl4, AlBr3 or ZnBr2 and a tertiary amine compound such as triethylamine, triethanolamine, pyridine or quinoline at 50-200°C, preferably 100-180°C to obtain a compound of formula II (n is integer of 1-4). The resultant compound is then hydrolyzed using water or a lower alcohol, thus more selectively obtaining the objective compound of formula III useful as a water-soluble organic solvent, etc., in a higher yield than in the conventional methods.
KITAMURA SATOSHI
MORISHITA SADAMASA
