PURPOSE: To obtain the subject compound useful as an intermediate for medicines, an agrochemicals and industrial products simply and in high yield by transesterifying a cyanoacetic ester with an alcohol by using a specific tin compound as a catalyst.
CONSTITUTION: A cyanoacetic ester of the formula NCCH2COOR' (R' is a 1-3C alkyl) is reacted with a alcohol of the formula R'OH (R' is a 4-20C alkyl) in the presence of a tin compound at 40-250°C to give a compound of the formula NCCH2COOR' (R' is a 4-20C alkyl). At least one selected from a compound of formula I (R2 and R3 are each a 1-18C alkyl; X1 and X2 are each H, R6, OR6, a halogen, etc.; R6 is a 1-18C alkyl) (e.g. dibutyltin dimethoxide), a compound of formula II (e.g. dioctyltin oxide), a compound of formula III (A is COCH=CHOC) (e.g. dibutyltin maleate, a compound of formula IV (X3 and X4 are each R6, OR6; B is OCOCH=CH-COO or O) (e.g. bis(tributyltin)maleate) is used as the tin compound.
TAKAYANAGI YASUYUKI
SEYA MASAAKI
