PROCESS FOR PREPARING 3-PHENOXYBENZYL 2-(4-ALKOXYPHENYL)-2-METHYLPROPYL ETHERS

Abstract: A process for preparing 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-­ alkoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ethers represented by formula (I), (wherein R represents a lower alkyl group, and X₁ and X₂ each represents a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom) by hydrogenating 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-alkoxy-3-­ halogenophenyl)-2-methylpropyl ethers or 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-alkoxy-3,5-dihalogenophenyl)-2-methylpropyl ethers re­ presented by formula (II), (wherein R, X₁, and X₂ are as defined above, and Y₁ and Y₂ each represents a hydrogen atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom or an iodine atom, with at least one of Y₁ and Y₂ being a chlorine, bromine or iodine atom) to remove the chlorine, bromine or iodine atom, which process is carried out in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst by using as a hydrogenating agent a lower aliphatic alcohol and an alkaline compound selected from amoung an alkali metal hydroxide and an alkaline earth metal hydroxide. This process enables the compound (I) to be obtained in a high yield without using hydrogen.

Description: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-alkoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ethers represented by the following formula (I): wherein R stands for a lower alkyl group, and X₁ and X₂ stand for a hydrogen atom or fluorine atom. A 3-phenoxybenzyl ether type derivative represented by the formula (I) is an excellent pest-controlling agent having very high insecticidal and acaricidal activities, being excellent in the immediate effect and residual effect and being less toxic to not only men and domestic animals but also fish. Prior Art A process for the preparation of a compound of the formula (I) having an alkoxy group on the benzene nucleus of the neophyl group is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 154427/81, and it is taught that the neophyl derivative can be prepared by condensing a compound represented by the following formula (III): with a 3-phenoxybenzyl halide or alcohol or by conden­ sing a compound represented by the following formula (IV): wherein X stands for a halogen atom, with a 3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol. The reaction path for the synthesis of the compound of the formula (III) is long, and the process for preparing the compound of the formula (I) from the compound of the formula (III) as the starting material is disadvantageous from the industrial view­ point. As the process for preparing the compound of the formula (IV), for example, the above-mentioned laid-open specification discloses a process represented by the following reaction formula e: However, in the case where the 4-position is substituted with a lower alkoxy group, according to the process of the reaction formula (1), a nuclear chlorination reaction is preferentially advanced, and the intended 4-alkoxyneophyl chloride is obtained in only a very poor yield. Further­ more, according to the process of the reaction formula (2), an alkylation reaction at the ortho-position to the alkoxy group is preferentially advanced and a large quantity of an ortho-isomer is formed as a by-product, and since effective separation of the isomers is difficult, the intended 4-alkoxyneophyl chloride having a high purity can be obtained only in a very low yield. Moreover, the obtained 4-alkoxyneophyl chloride is an unstable compound, and storage and handling thereof on an industrial scale involve various difficu­ lties. As the improved process for overcoming the fore­ going disadvantages, JP-publication 73 535/84 = GB-PS 2 131 424 proposes a process in which a 3-halogeno-4-alkoxyneophyl halide having at least one chlorine or bromine atom substituted at the ortho-position to the alkoxy group is used and this compound is reacted with a 3-phenoxyben­ zyl alcohol to obtain a compound of the formula (II) and a compound of the formula (I) is obtained from this compound of the formula (II). In this laid-open specification, it is taught that the compound of the formula (I) is obtained by subjecting the compound of the formula (II) to catalytic hydrodehalogenation using hydrogen in a solvent such as methanol in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst such as palladium and a base as the dehydrohalogenating agent. The fatal defect of this process is that hydrogen gas is used at the dehalogenating step. Namely, in the case where this process is worked on an indust­ rial scale, special care should be taken to maintain safety and the location is limited because hydrogen gas-supplying equipment is necessary. Moreover, large equipment expenses are necessary and hence the process is disadvantageous also from the economical viewpoint. In the catalytic hydrogenation reaction using hydrogen, cleaving is readily caused in a compound having an 0-benzyl group and a fluorine atom, such as the compound of the formula (II), unless the hydrog­ enation conditions are strictly controlled. It has been found that this tendency is especially prominent when a palladium type catalyst, which is known to be preferred as a dehalogenation catalyst, is used. As the process not using hydrogen, there may be considered a process in which a known reducing agent such as sodium formate is used. However, it has been found that even if the compound of the formula (II) used in the present invention is reacted with sodium formate as the reducing agent, the unreacted substance and the by-product formed by cleaving of the ether linkage are contained in large quantities in the dehalogenation reaction liquid. Okamoto et al. (Bull. Chem. Soc. Japan, 54 (1981), pg. 1265/6) teaches that it is well known to dehalogenate aromatic halide compounds (including aromatic ethers) by contacting said compounds with NaOH-alcohols in the presence of a catalyst. However, it concretely illustrates and exemplifies ethers of bromoanisole, pentachloroanisole and bis(pentabromophenyl) ether as aromatic ethers; but it is silent on the benzyl ring-halosubstituted neophyl ethers of the present invention. Thus the object of the present invention is to provide a process for the production of 3-phenoxybenzyl-2-(4-alkoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ethers in high yields and good purity without using H₂-gas. According to the invention this object is solved by the process of the main claim. Particular embodiments are demonstrated by the subclaims. In particular the invention is a process for obtaining the compound of the formula (I) by removing chlorine, bromine or iodine from the compound of the formula (II) by hydrodehalogenation reaction, and it was found that if an alkali compound and an alcohol are present in amounts larger than the stoichio­ metrically necessary amounts in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, hydrogen gas need not indispensably be added to the reaction and the reaction can be advanced only by hydrogen ge­ nerated in situ from the alkali and alcohol, and surprisingly it was found that the dechlorination or debromination reaction can be carried out in a yield comparable to or higher than the yield attained in the process using hydrogen gas supplied from outside of the reaction system, disclosed in the above-mentioned laid open specification. Since hydrogen gas supplied from outside of the reaction system is not used, the process of the present invention is much safer and is advantageous from the economical viewpoint over the pro­ cess using hydrogen gas supplied from outside of the reaction system. These advantages and the high functional utility of compounds prepared according to the present process demonstrate the very high industrial value of the invention. In the hydrodehalogenative reduction reaction of the present invention, in order to obtain the intended compounds of the for­ mula (I) in a high yield without using hydrogen gas supplied from outside of the reaction system, an alkali metal hydroxide or alka­ line earth metal hydroxide and a lower aliphatic alcohol should be used in combination besides a hydrogenation catalyst and a customarily used hydrodehalogenating agent for neutralizing the formed hydrohalogenic acid, wich is an inorganic base. The reason is presumed to be as follows. For example, when sodium hydroxide is used as the alkali metal hydroxide and methanol is used as the lower aliphatic alcohol, sodium hydroxide is reacted with methanol in the presence of a hydrogena­ tion catalyst to form formic acid and this formic acid is decomposed to sodium formate and finally to sodium carbonate. At this time, stoichiometrically speaking, by using 2 moles of sodium hydroxide per mole of methanol, 3 moles of hydrogen is finally formed, and this hydrogen acts efficiently on the dehalogenation reaction of the compound of the formula (II) under the influence of the catalyst. Accordingly, in the process of the present inven­ tion, an alkali compound for generating hydrogen should be present in addition to an inorganic base acting as the hydrodehalogenating agent (neutralizing agent for the formed hydrohalogenic acid). As the alkali compound, there can be mentioned, for example, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide. The alkali compound may be used singly in a large amount so that it also acts as the hydrodehalo­ genating agent (neutralizing agent for the formed hydrohalogenic acid); but, of course, a different base may be used as the hydrode­ halogenating agent in combination with the alkali compound. As the inorganic base that can be used as the hydrodehalo­ genating agent in combination with the alkali compound, there can be mentioned potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate and sodium acetate. Single use of an inorganic base is preferred, and single use of an alkali metal hydroxide, particularly sodium hydroxide, is especially advantageous from the economical viewpoint. In the present invention, when the alkali metal hydroxide alone is used, hydrogen is generated by reacting the alkali metal hydroxide in an amount of at least two moles with the stoichiometric amount of methanol; but in order for the alkali to act also as the dehalo­ genating agent, the alkali should be used in an amount of at least 0.6 mole of the stoichiometric amount per mole of the starting compound of the formula (II). When the action of the alkali as the hydrodehalogenating agent is also intended, it is preferred that the alkali be used in an amount of 1,0 to 10 moles per mole of the compound of the formula (II). As the alcohol used as the reducing agent in combination with the alkali in the process of the present invention, there can be mentioned lower alipha­ tic monools and diols such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, n-butanol, isobutanol, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol. Monools, especially methanol, are preferred. These alcohols may be used in the form of mixtures of two or more of them. When an alkali metal hydroxide is used as the alkali and a monool is used as the alcohol, it is necessary that the alcohol should be used in an amount of at least about 0.3 mole of the stoichiometric amount, preferably 0.4 to 30 moles, per mole of the compound of the formula (II), for example, a 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-alkoxy-3-halogenophenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, and when the alcohol is used also as the reaction medium described below, the amount of the alcohol is appropriately selected while taking the amount of the alcohol used as the reaction medium into con­ sideration. In the hydrodehalogenation step, addition of water is not absolutely necessary. However, in order to increase the reaction rate, it is preferred that water be added and the reaction be carried out in a water-containing organic solvent. Various organic solvents, for example, alcohols such as methanol, polyhydric alcohols such as ethylene glycol, acetic acid and acetic acid esters may be used as the organic solvent. However, it is preferred that the same alcohol as used in the reducing reaction be used. When the organic solvent is used, it is preferred that the concentration be adjusted to 20 to 80%. When an alcohol and water are used as the reaction medium, the concentration of the alcohol is selected within the above-mentioned range while taking the amount of the alcohol used in the reducing reaction into consideration. The amount of the reaction medium used can be selected within a broad range, but in view of the reaction rate and the volume efficiency of the reac­ tion vessel, it is preferred that the reaction medium be used in an amount of 2 to 10 parts by volume per part by volume of the compound of the formula (II). As the catalyst, there can be used a nickel catalyst such as Raney nickel, a palladium catalyst such as palladium-carbon or palladium-alumina, and a platinum catalyst. Palladium-carbon is especially advantageous. The catalyst is used in an amount of 0.1 to 20% by weight, preferably 1 to 6% by weight, based on the compound represented by the formula (II). As the 4-alkoxyneophyl ether derivative of the formula (I) prepared according to the process of the present invention, there can be mentioned 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, 3-phenoxy-4-fluorobenzyl 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, 3-(4-fluorophenoxy)benzyl 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, 3-(4-fluoro­ phenoxy)-4-fluorobenzyl 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, 3-phenoxy-4-fluorobenzyl 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, 3-(4-fluoro­ phenoxy)benzyl 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, 3-(4-fluorophenoxy)-4-fluorobenzy 2-(4-ethoxyphe­ nyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, 3-phenoxy-6-fluorobenzyl 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, 3-(2-fluoro­ phenoxy)benzyl 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-(i-propoxy)phenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, 3-phenoxy-4-fluorobenzyl 2-(4-(i-propoxy)phenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-(1-methylpropoxy)phenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-(n-butoxy)phenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-(t-butoxy)phenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether and 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-(n-pentyloxy)­ phenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether. A general embodiment of the present invention will now be described. The dehalogenation reaction of the present invention may be carried out under atmospheric pressure according to the amounts of the hydrogenation catalyst, the alkali compound and the lower alcohol used. However, it is generally preferred that the reaction be carried out under an elevated pressure. A reaction vessel is charged with predetermined amounts of a 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-alkoxy-3-halogeno­ phenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether or 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-alkoxy-3,5-dihalogenophenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether represented by the general formula (II), an alcohol and alkali as the reducing agent and a hydroge­ nation catalyst, and the mixture is heated at 50 to 220°C, preferably 80 to 150°C, and stirred at this temperature for 0.5 to 50 hours, preferably 3 to 30 hours. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature, and if necessary, in order to form a homogeneous solution, a nonpolar solvent such as water or benzene is added, and the catalyst is separated by filtration under reduced pressure. The mother liquor is subjected to phase separation, and the oil layer is washed with water and dehydrated and the solvent is removed to give a 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-alkoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether represented by the general formula (I) as the intended product. The obtained product can be satisfactorily used as such as an insecticidal and acaricidal agent, but according to need, the product may be purified by reduced pressure distillation, column chromatography or recrystallization. The present invention will now be described in detail more with reference to the following examples. Example 1 An autoclave having a capacity of 500 mℓ was charged with 60.0 g (0.146 mole) of 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(3-chloro-4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, 18.8 g (0.47 mole) of flaky sodium hydroxide, 2.4 g of 5%-palladium-carbon (50% wet), 85.3 g (2.66 moles) of methanol and 36 g of water. The autoclave was sealed and the inner atmosphere was replaced by nitrogen, and the mixture was heated with stirring at an inner temperature of 110°C for 12 hours to complete reaction. The reaction mixture was cooled to 50°C and the residual pressure was released, and 100 mℓ of benzene was added into the autoclave to dissolve the oil layer. Then, the catalyst was removed by filtration, and the filtrate was allowed to stand still to cause phase separation, and the benzene layer was recovered and washed with 120 mℓ of water three times, and benzene was removed by distillation under reduced pressure to give an oily product. From the results of the analysis of the oily product by gas chroma­ tography according to the internal standard method, it was found that the oily product comprised 98.8% of 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether and 0.3% of unreacted starting 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(3-chloro-4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, and that the content of each of 3-phenoxytoluene and 4-ethoxyneo­ phyl alcohol formed by cleaving of the ether linkage was lower than 0.3%. The amount of the obtained oily product was 53.8 g, and the yield was 96.7%. Example 2 An autoclave having a capacity of 300 mℓ was charged with 60.0 g (0.140 mole) of 3-phenoxy-4-fluorobenzyl 2-(3-chloro-4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, 18.8 g (0.47 mole) of flaky sodium hydroxide, 2.4 g of 5%-palladium-carbon (50% wet), 56.9 g (1.77 moles) of methanol and 54.0 g of water. The autoclave was sealed and the inner atmosphere was replaced by nitrogen, and the mixture was heated with stirring at an inner temperature of 120°C for 10 hours to complete reaction. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and the residual pressure was released, and 100 mℓ of benzene was added into the autoclave to dissolve the oily portion. Then, the catalyst was removed by filtration, and the filtrate was sufficiently shaken and allowed to stand still to cause phase separation. Then, the obtained benzene layer was washed with 100 mℓ of water three times and benzene was removed by distillation under reduced pressure to give an oily product. From the results of the analysis of the oily product by gas chromatography according to the internal standard method, it was found that the oily product comprised 98.2% of 3-phenoxy-4-fluorobenzyl 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether and 0.7% of starting 3-phenoxy-4-fluorobenzyl 2-(3-chloro-4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, and that the content of each of 3-phenoxy-4-fluorotoluene and 4-ethoxyneophyl alcohol formed by cleaving of the ether linkage was lower than 0.2%. Moreover, 0.8% of 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether presumed to have been formed by reduction of the fluorine atom was contained. The amount of the obtained oily product was 54.0 g and the yield was 96.0%. Example 3 A four-necked glass flask having a capacity of 300 mℓ was charged with 60.0 g (0.146 mole) of 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(3-chloro-4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpro­ pyl ether, 18.8 g (0.47 mole) of flaky sodium hydroxide, 4.8 g of 5%-palladium-carbon (50% wet), 86.2 g (1.87 moles) of ethanol and 36 g of water, and the mixture was heated with stirring at the boiling point (81°C) for 6 hours to complete reaction. The reaction mixture was cooled to 50°C, and 50 mℓ of benzene was added into the reaction vessel to dissolve the oily portion. The catalyst was removed by filtration and the filtrate was allowed to stand still to cause phase separation. The benzene layer was recovered and washed with 100 mℓ of water three times. Benzene was removed by distillation under reduced pressure to give an oily product. From the results of the analysis of the oily product by gas chromatography according to the internal standard method, it was found that the oily product comprised 96.2% of 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl­ propyl ether and 1.5% of unreacted starting 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(3-chloro-4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl­ propyl ether, and that the oily product contained 0.5% of 3-phenoxytoluene and 0.2% of 4-ethoxyneophyl alcohol, each being formed by cleaving of the ether linkage. The amount of the obtained oily product was 54.0 g and the yield was 94.5%. Example 4 A four-necked glass flask having a capacity of 300 mℓ was charged with 60.0 g (0.146 mole) of 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(3-chloro-4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpro­ pyl ether, 23.5 g (0.588 mole) of flaky sodium hydroxide, 4.8 g of 5%-palladium-carbon (50% wet), 18 g (0.290 mole) of ethylene glycol and 144 g of water, and the mixture was heated with stirring at the boiling point (104°C) for 12 hours to complete reaction. The reaction mixture was cooled to 50°C and 50 mℓ of benzene was added into the reaction vessel to dissolve the oily portion. The catalyst was removed by filtration and the filtrate was allowed to stand still to cause phase separation. The benzene layer was washed with 100 mℓ of water three times. Benzene was removed by distillation under reduced pressure to give an oily product. From the results of the analysis of the oily product by gas chromatography according to the internal standard method, it was found that the oily product comprised 95.3% of 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl­ propyl ether and 2.2% of unreacted starting 3-phenoxy­ benzyl 2-(3-chloro-4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, and that the oily product contained 0.6% of 3-phenoxytoluene and 0.4% of 4-ethoxyneophyl alcohol, each being formed by cleaving of the ether linkage. The amount of the obtained oily product was 54.3 g and the yield was 94.1%. Referential Example An autoclave having a capacity of 500 mℓ was charged with 60.0 g (0.146 mole) of 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(3-chloro-4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, 7.5 g (0.188 mole) of flaky sodium hydroxide, 7.2 g of 5%-palladium-carbon (50% wet), 83.5 g of methanol and 36 mℓ of water, and the autoclave was sealed and the inner atmosphere was replaced by nitrogen. Hydrogen was filled in the autoclave so that the pressure was 8 kg/cm²G. The mixture was heated with stirring at an inner temperature of 110°C for 12 hours while supplying hydrogen so that the pressure was 8 to 10 kg/cm²G, to complete reaction. The reaction mixture was cooled to room tempera­ ture and the residual pressure was released, and 120 mℓ of benzene was added into the autoclave to dissolve the oil layer. Then, the insoluble substance was removed by filtration, and the mother liquid was washed with 30 mℓ of benzene, sufficiently shaken and allowed to stand still to cause phase separation and give a benzene layer. The benzene layer was washed with 120 mℓ of water three times and benzene was removed by distillation under reduced pressure to give an oily product. From the results of the analysis of the oily pro­ duct by gas chromatography according to the internal standard method, it was found that the oily product comprised 98.5% of 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether and 0.5% of unreacted starting 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(3-chloro-4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpro­ pyl ether, and that the content of each of 3-phenoxy­ toluene and 4-ethoxyneophyl alcohol formed by cleaving of the ether linkage was lower than 0.3%. The amount of the obtained oily product was 53.6 g and the yield was 96.0%. Example 5 An autoclave having a capacity of 300 mℓ was charged with 30.0 g (0.066 mole) of 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(3-bromo-4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, 8.5 g of flaky sodium hydroxide, 0.9 g of 5%-palladium-carbon (50% wet), 42.7 g (2.3 moles) of methanol and 18 g of water, and the autoclave was sealed and the inner atmosphere was replaced by nitrogen. The mixture was heated with stirring at an inner temperature of 110°C for 10 hours to complete reaction. The reaction mixture was cooled to 50°C and the residual pressure was released, and 70 mℓ of benzene was added into the autoclave to dissolve the oil layer. The catalyst was removed by filtration, and the filtrate was allowed to stand still to cause phase separation to give a benzene layer. Then, the benzene layer was washed with 100 mℓ of water three times, and benzene was removed by distillation under reduced pressure to give an oily product. From the results of the analysis of the oily product by gas chromatography according to the internal standard method, it was found that the oily product comprised 98.6% of 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether and 0.4% of unreacted starting 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(3-bromo-4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, and that the content of each of 3-phenoxytoluene and 4-ethoxyneophyl alcohol formed by cleaving of the ether linkage was lower than 0.3%. The amount of the obtained oily product was 23.8 g and the yield was 94.4%. Example 6 An autoclave having a capacity of 300 mℓ was charged with 40.0 g (0.072 mole) of 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(3-iodo-4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, 9.3 g (0.23 mole) of flaky sodium hydroxide, 1.2 g of 5%-palladium-carbon (50% wet), 64.0 g (2.0 moles) of methanol and 27 g of water, and the autoclave was sealed and the inner atmosphere was replaced by nitrogen. The mixture was heated with stirring at an inner temperature of 110°C for 10 hours to complete reaction. An oily product was obtained by carrying out the post-treatment in the same manner as in Example 5. From the result of the analysis of the oily product by gas chroma­ tography according to the internal standard method, it was found that the oily product comprised 99.2% of 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether and 0.1% of unreacted starting 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(3-iodo-4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, and that the content of each of 3-phenoxytoluene and 4-ethoxyneophyl alcohol formed by cleaving of the ether linkage was lower than 0.3%. The amount of the obtained oily product was 26.0 g and the yield was 95.1%. Example 7 The dechlorination reaction was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 1.44 g of 10%-palladium-alumina (100% dry) was used instead of the 5%-palladium-carbon used as the hydrogenation catalyst in Example 1, and an oily product was obtained by carrying out the post-treatment in the same manner as in Example 1. From the results of the analysis of the oily pro­ duct by gas chromatography according to the internal standard method, it was found that the oily product comprised 97.4% of 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether and 0.5% of unreacted starting 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(3-chloro-4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpro­ pyl ether, and that the content of each of 3-phenoxy­ toluene and 4-ethoxyneophyl alcohol formed by cleaving of the ether linkage was lower than 0.7%. The amount of the obtained oily product was 52.0 g and the yield was 93.2%. Comparative Example An autoclave having a capacity of 300 mℓ was charged with 60.0 g (0.145 mole) of 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(3-chloro-4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, 29.8 g (0.438 mole) of sodium formate, 4.8 g of 5%-palladium-carbon (50% wet) and 144 mℓ of water, and the mixture was heated with stirring at an inner temperature of 110°C for 12 hours to complete reaction The reaction mixture was cooled to room tempera­ ture, and 100 mℓ of benzene was added into the reaction vessel to dissolve the oily portion. Then, the catalyst was removed by filtration and the filtrate was allowed to stand still to cause phase separation to obtain a benzene layer. The benzene layer was washed with 100 mℓ of water three times, and benzene was removed by distillation under reduced pressure to give an oily product. From the results of the analysis of the oily product by gas chromatography according to the internal standard method, it was found that the oily product comprised 65.8% of 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpro­ pyl ether, 21.8% of unreacted starting 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(3-chloro-4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether, and 4.4% of 3-phenoxytoluene and 2.9% of 4-ethoxyneophyl alcohol as by-products formed by cleaving of the ether linkage. The amount of the obtained oily product was 57.4 g and the yield was 68.7%.

Claims: 1. Process for the preparation of 3-phenoxy­ benzyl 2-(4-alkoxyphenyl)-2-methylpropyl ethers represented by the following formula (I): wherein R stands for a lower alkyl group, and X₁ and X₂ stand for a hydrogen atom or fluorine atom, characterized by subjecting a 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-alkoxy-3-halogenophenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether or 3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-alkoxy-3,5-dihalogenophenyl)-2-methylpropyl ether represented by the following formula (II): wherein R stands for a lower alkyl group, X₁ and X₂ stand for a hydrogen atom or fluorine atom, and Y₁ and Y₂ stand for a hydrogen atom, chlorine atom, bromine atom or iodine atom, with the proviso that at least one of Y₁ and Y₂ is a chlorine atom, bromine atom or iodine atom, to hydrodechlorination, hydrodebromination or hydrodeiodination in the presence of 1) a hydrogenation catalyst, 2) a lower aliphatic alcohol, 3) an alkali metal hydroxide or an alkaline-earth metal hydroxide, and 4) optionally another inorganic base additionally to component 3), with the proviso that a) the components 2) and 3) are present in amounts larger than the stoichiometrically necessary amounts, and b) hydrogen gas from outside of the reaction system is not used. 2. Process according to claim 1 wherein without using component 4) the alkali metal hydroxide is used in an amount of at least 0,6 mole per mole of the compound of the formla (II). 3. Process according to claim 1 wherein the component 3) is sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide. 4. Process according to the preceding claims wherein methanol is used as the lower aliphatic alkohol. 5. Process according to the preceding claims wherein sodium hydroxide and methanol are used in a stoichiometric relation of 2 : 1 mole. 6. Process according to the preceding claims wherein the amount of component 3) is 1,0 to 10 moles per mole of the compound II without using component 4). 7. Process according to the preceding claims wherein the lower aliphatic alcohol is a monool and is used in an amount of at least 0,3 mole, preferably 0,4 to 30 moles per mole of compound II and the component 3) is an alkali metal. hydroxide 8. Process according to claim 1 wherein methanol is used in an amount of at least 0,3 mole per mole of compound II. 9. Process according to claim 1 wherein water is used additionally. 10. Process according to the preceding claims wherein a palladium catalyst is used as the hydrogenation catalyst.

Inventors: ASANO, TAMOTSU, HORIE, HIRONOBU, NISHIDA, TAKESHI, TAKAGI, AKINOBU, TAMURA, NOBUYASU, UMEMOTO, MITSUMASA
Applicants: MITSUI TOATSU CHEMICALS, INC.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: C07C43
IPC codes: C07C43, C07C41, B01J23, C07C67, C07B61