Process for preparing phenethanol ethers by the reduction of corresponding phenylglyoxal acetals

US5124489A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Hoechst Celanese Corporation · US

Inventors

• John R. Durrwachter · Port Aransas, US
• Michael Meier · Frankfurt am Main, DE
• Graham N. Mott · Port Aransas, US
• Werner H. Mueller · Port Aransas, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 6, 1991
• Grant date: Jun 23, 1992
• Expiry date: Sep 6, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07D233/78
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Substituted phenethanol ethers are prepared by the catalytic reduction of corresponding substituted phenylglyoxal acetals. The catalytic reduction is carried out by reacting a substituted phenylglyoxal acetal with hydrogen in the presence of an acid catalyst and a metal catalyst. Certain substituted phenylglyoxal acetals, and more particularly, 4-hydroxyphenylglyoxal dialkyl acetals are prepared by reacting 4-hydroxyacetophenone with a primary or a secondary alkyl alcohol in the presence of a hydrogen ion (H+) source and a nitrosonium ion (NO+) source.