To obtain a phenylbenzaldehyde useful for producing a benzocycloheptene derivative suitable as an intermediate for producing anilide derivative having MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) receptor antagonism, or the like, by reducing a biphenyl derivative.
A compound of formula I [R is a (substituted) alkyl; the ring A is a benzene ring which may further contain a substitutent group except the substituent group R] [e.g. 4-(4-methylphenyl)benzonitrile, or the like] is reacted with a reducing agent such as diisobutyl aluminum lithium hydride or bis(2-methoxyethoxy)aluminum sodium hydride by using a halogen-based solvent (e.g. methylene chloride, or the like), an aromatic hydrocarbon (e.g. benzene, or the like) or an ether (e.g. tetrahydrofuran, or the like) as a reaction solvent at -70 to 200°C for 0.1-24 hours to give a compound of formula II [e.g. 4-(4-methylphenyl)benzaldehyde, or the like].
KAWARASAKI TADAO
HASHIMOTO HIDEO
TOMIMATSU KIMINORI
