Preparation of higher unsaturated ketones

US4310705A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Axel Nissen
• Gerd Kaibel · Lampertheim, DE
• Otto Woerz · Friedelsheim, DE
• Lothar Arnold · Heidelberg, DE
• Manfred Braun · Bad Hersfeld, DE
• Walter Rebafka · Eppelheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 26, 1980
• Grant date: Jan 12, 1982
• Expiry date: Jun 26, 2000

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C45/676
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

An improved process for the preparation of higher unsaturated ketones, such as geranylacetone and farnesylacetone, by reacting a .beta.,.gamma.-unsaturated alcohol and an alkyl acetoacetate at an elevated temperature in the presence of an organic aluminum compound, with elimination, and removal, of the alcohol derived from the alkyl acetoacetate in a reactor system carrying a fractionating column. The improvement in the purity, yield, and especially space-time yield of the product is achieved by starting from an alcohol having a higher boiling point than that of the alkyl acetoacetate used, carrying out the reaction in the presence of a small amount of an inert liquid which has a boiling point between that of the alkyl acetoacetate and the alcohol to be eliminated therefrom, and ensuring that the temperature at the bottom of the fractionating column is only slightly higher than the boiling point of the added liquid, under the prevailing pressure.