Process for preparing phthalides

US6020501A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Klemens Massonne · Bad Dürkheim, DE
• Rainer Becker · Bad Dürkheim, DE
• Wolfgang Reif · Bischofswerda, DE
• Joachim Wulff-Doring · Bischofswerda, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 7, 1999
• Grant date: Feb 1, 2000
• Expiry date: Jan 7, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07D307/88
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The disclosure is a process for preparing a phthalide of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each independently of the others hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, by hydrogenation of a phthalic anhydride of the general formula II ##STR2## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each as defined above, with the aid of a hydrogenation catalyst, which comprises performing the hydrogenation with the aid of a nickel catalyst doped with metals of subgroup 1, subgroup 6 and/or subgroup 7 of the Periodic Table.