Preparation of alpha-substituted upsilon-butyrolactones

US4831166A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Heinz Eckhardt · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Walter Gramlich · Edingen-Neckarhausen, DE
• Walter F. Best · Indianapolis, US
• Klaus Halbritter · Heidelberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 8, 1987
• Grant date: May 16, 1989
• Expiry date: May 8, 2007

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07D315/00
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

.gamma.-butyrolactones of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms which may be substituted by lower alkoxy or acyloxy and R.sup.2 is hydrogen or straight-chain or branched alkyl which is unsubstituted or substituted by a functional group or is aryl, are prepared by reacting an alkylene oxide of the general formula II ##STR2## with an acylacetate of the general formla III ##STR3## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 have the above meanings and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or aryl, and R.sup.4 may furthermore be hydrogen, in the presence of a catalyst at elevated temperatures, by a process in which the reaction is carried out in the presence of an alkali metal halide, of an ammonium halide, preferably a quaternary ammonium halide, of a phosphonium halide, of an alkali metal phosphate or of an alkali metal carbonate at from 20.degree. to 200.degree. C. and under from 1 to 50 bar.