Patent ID: 6093857
Filing Date: 2000-07-25
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for preparing cyclopentyl formates of the formula ##STR8## by reacting cyclopentenes of the formula (I) ##STR9## where R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, independently of one another, are hydrogen atoms or C.sub.1-8 alkyl, with formic acid in the presence of an acid catalyst selected from Lewis acids of the formula BX.sub.3, AlX.sub.2, SnX.sub.4, FeX.sub.3, MgX.sub.2, ZnX.sub.2, where X is halide or the radical C.sub.6 F.sub.5, from metal complexes of the formula (R.sub.3 P)MY, where M is copper, silver or gold, Y is a halide nitrate, sulfate, carboxylate or tosylate, R is C.sub.1-12 alkyl, C.sub.6-12 aryl, C.sub.1-12 O-alkyl or C.sub.6-12 O-aryl, or from Lewis acid or Bronsted acid solid catalysts, wherein the cyclopentyl formates are obtained by extraction of the reaction mixture with cyclopentane and subsequent removal of the cyclopentane.