Patent ID: 6552217
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
Process for the preparation of alkyl 1-methylcyclopropanecarboxylate which comprises the steps of:(1) contacting &ggr;-butyrolactone with dimethylcarbonate in the presence of a basic catalyst to produce &agr;-methyl-&ggr;-butyrolactone; (2) contacting the &agr;-methyl-&ggr;-butyrolactone from step (1) with a hydrogen halide in the presence of an alkanol, wherein said alkanol is methanol or ethanol, to produce a reaction mixture containing an alkyl 4-halo-2-methylbutyrate; (3) contacting the reaction mixture of step (2) with xylene to produce a xylene solution of an alkyl 4-halo-2-methylbutyrate; (4) contacting the xylene solution of an alkyl 4-halo-2-methylbutyrate from step (3) with an alkali metal alkoxide under conditions of temperature and pressure which causes vaporization of (i) an alkanol as it is formed and (ii) an alkyl 1-methylcyclopropanecarboxylate as it is formed from the alkyl 4-halo-2-methylbutyrate.