Patent ID: 6268526
Filing Date: 2001-07-31
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process of regioselectively producing an aromatic-substituted aliphatic acid or ester in which the aromatic group is bonded to the alpha-carbon atom of the aliphatic acid or ester moiety, which process comprisesa) forming a mixture from ingredients comprising(i) an aromatic substituted alcohol and/or an aromatic substituted alkyl halide of the formula ##STR3##where X is a halogen atom or a hydroxy group, R.sup.1 is hydrogen and R.sup.2 is a C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl group;(ii) a copper-free palladium catalyst comprising a palladium compound compound in which the palladium has a valence of zero to two, and a cycloalkyldiarylphosphine of the formula ##STR4##wherein R' and R"" are the same or different and are individually hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or substituted aryl; Ar is phenyl, naphthyl, substituted phenyl or substituted naphthyl; and n is an integer from 3 to 6; and(iii) optionally a halogen acid; andb) heating said mixture with carbon monoxide at a pressure in the range of about 250 to about 2000 psig and a temperature in the range of from about 85.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. for a period in the range of about 1 to about 8 hours to form said aromatic-substituted aliphatic acid or ester with a selectivity of at least 100:1 relative to the corresponding aromatic-substituted aliphatic acid or ester in which the aromatic group is bonded to the beta-carbon atom of the aliphatic acid or ester moiety.