PURPOSE: To produce an aldehyde useful as an intermediate for pharmaceuticals or agricultural chemicals in high efficiency at a low cost, by isomerizing epoxides in the presence of a catalyst consisting of a substance produced by supporting a specific metal halide on an inorganic solid.
CONSTITUTION: The objective compound of formula II (R11WR13 are group in R1WR3) can be produced on an industrial scale at a low cost, by isomerizing epoxides of formula I (R1WR3 are H, lower alkyl, aryl or two of which together form an alicyclic group) in liquid or gaseous phase in the presence of a substance produced by supporting a metal halide of formula [M][X]m (M is group Ia or IIa metal atom, e.g. Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, especially Li or Mg; X is halogen such as Cl, Br, I, F, especially Cl or Br; m is 1 or 2), especially lithium bromide on an inorganic solid, especially alumina or silica gel.
MIYAKE HANIROKU
TOIKAWA TADAO
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