Process for producing acetals

Abstract: Described is a process for producing acetals comprising reacting an aldehyde or a ketone with an alcohol in the presence of a titanium compound having an acetylacetone as a ligand, or in the presence of a compound selected from the group consisting of stannous chloride dihydrate, cerium chloride hexahydrate and bismuth chloride, which process can also be applied to the synthesis of unstable acetals or to the case where the water content exists in the reaction mixture and therefore can be used for a wide variety of applications.

Description: This invention relates to a process for producing acetals. The acetals obtained by the process provided by the present invention are useful as starting materials for perfumes, agricultural chemicals, pharmaceuticals or the like. A number of processes have been reported as processes for producing acetals by the reaction of an aldehyde or ketone and an alcohol. For example, the following processes described in (1) to (5) are known. (1) A process in which p-toluenesulfonic acid is used as a catalyst (see "Org. Synth. Coll. Vol. V, 303(1973)"). (2) A process in which pyridinium p-toluenesulfonate is used as a catalyst (see "Synthesis, 724(1979)"). (3) A process in which an acid-type ion-exchange resin is used as a catalyst (see "J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans I, 158(1979)"). (4) A process in which aluminum chloride is used as a catalyst (see "Synthesis, 711(1989)"). (5) A process in which an alumina is used as a catalyst (see "Tetrahedron Lett., 4764(1985)"). In each of the above-described processes (1)-(4) for producing acetals, however, the acidic catalyst employed has strong acidity so that when the process is applied to the synthesis of an unstable acetal such as an acetal formed from an enal or enone, or an acetal formed from allyl alcohol, a dealcoholytic reaction or a dehydration reaction proceeds as a side reaction and the desired acetal cannot be obtained in a high yield. In addition, the above-described process (4) or (5) for producing acetals is accompanied with the problem that in the case where an alcohol having a high water content is used or in the case where removal of water content from the reaction system cannot be effected sufficiently, the deactivation of the catalyst occurs and the reaction does not proceed. According to Chemical Abstracts, Vol. 99, 53125v compounds of the formula RCH(OR 1 ) 2 (wherein R = alkyl, alkenyl, aryl; R 1 = alkyl) were prepared by acetalization of RCHO with R 1 OH in the presence of 0.02-3.5 wt.-% Ca or Ce chloride. J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Comm., 1978, pp 976-977 describes a synthesis of acetals catalyzed by rare earth metal chlorides. In particular LaCl 3 , CeCl 3 , NdCl 3 , ErCl 3 and YbCl 3 have been employed. Chemical Abstracts, Vol. 90, 137263r discloses the preparation of acetals by the reaction of a,β-unsaturated aldehydes with alcohols in the presence of Cu(II), Fe(III), Cr(III), Pd(II) or Bi(III) chlorides, sulfonates, nitrates, Amberlite 200, Fe 2 O 3 , MoO 3 , SnO 2 , SeO 2 . Riechstoffe und Aromen, Vol. 6, No. 2/3, pp. 33, 34, 65, 66 discloses the fragrant properties of isobutyraldehyde diallyl acetal. An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a process for producing acetals which process can also be applied to the synthesis of unstable acetals or to the case where the water content exists in the reaction system and thus can be used for a wide variety of applications. The object of the invention can be achieved by the invention described below. The present invention provides a process for producing an acetal, which comprises, upon producing an acetal represented by the following formula (4) or (5): wherein R 1 and R 2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group with 1 to 20 carbon atoms which can have a substituent, or R 1 and R 2 are coupled together to form an alkylene group which can have an ethereal bond therein; R 3 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group with 1 to 20 carbon atoms which can have a substituent; and R 4 represents an alkylene group which can have an ethereal bond therein, by reacting an aldehyde or a ketone represented by the following formula (1): wherein R 1 and R 2 have the same meanings as defined above with an alcohol represented by the following formula (2) or (3): R 3 -OH HO-R 4 -OH wherein R 3 and R 4 have the same meanings as defined above, using, as a catalyst, stannous chloride dehydrate or a titanium compound having acetylacetone as a ligand. The present invention is described in detail. In the above formulas (1) to (5) which represent a ketone, an aldehyde and an alcohol which are starting materials, and an acetal which is the product, examples of the monovalent hydrocarbon group with 1 to 20 carbon atoms represented by R 1 or R 2 include alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-butyl, t-butyl, isoamyl and octyl; cycloalkyl groups such as cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl; alkenyl groups such as allyl, methallyl, crotyl and prenyl; alkynyl groups such as 2-propynyl; aryl groups such as phenyl, tolyl, xylyl and naphthyl; aralkyl groups such as benzyl and phenethyl; and a cinnamyl group. Examples of the monovalent hydrocarbon group with 1 to 20 carbon atoms represented by R 3 include alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-butyl, t-butyl, isoamyl and octyl; cycloalkyl groups such as cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl; alkenyl groups such as allyl, methallyl, crotyl and prenyl; alkynyl groups such as 2-propynyl; aralkyl groups such as benzyl and phenethyl; and a cinnamyl group. These hydrocarbon groups can contain any substituent which does not inhibit the acetalization reaction. Examples of the substituent include halogen atoms such as chlorine, bromine and iodine; carboxyl group; alkoxycarbonyl groups such as methoxycarbonyl and ethoxycarbonyl; and alkoxy groups such as methoxy and ethoxy. In the case where R 1 and R 2 are coupled together to form an alkylene group which can have an ethereal bond therein, examples of such an alkylene group include ethylene, propylene, tetramethylene and pentamethylene groups and a divalent group represented by the following formulas: -CH 2 -O-CH 2 - -CH 2 -CH 2 -O-CH 2 -CH 2 - As the specific example of the alkylene group which is represented by R 4 and can have an ethereal bond therein, the above exemplified ones can be given. There is no particular limitation on the aldehyde or ketone usable in the present invention. It can have a double bond, triple bond or aromatic ring in its molecule. A description will next be made of the specific examples of the aldehyde and ketone. Those of the aldehyde include formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde, isobutyraldehyde, isovaleral, hexanal, octanal, methacrolein, crotonaldehyde, sene cionaldehyde, citral, citronellal, benzaldehyde and cinnamaldehyde. Those of the ketone include methyl ethyl ketone, pinacolone, cyclohexanone, 2-octanone, mesityl oxide, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, acetophenone and propiophenone. Illustrative of the alcohol usable in the present invention include methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, allyl alcohol, methallyl alcohol, prenol, isoprenol, geraniol, nerol, benzyl alcohol, 2-phenylethanol, ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol and diethylene glycol. From the viewpoint of the reaction rate, the use of a primary alcohol is preferred. There is no particular limitation on the amount of an alcohol used. To obtain an acetal in a high yield, however, the alcohol is generally used in an amount so that the hydroxyl group in the alcohol may be at least 1 mole, preferably at least 2 moles, per mole of the carbonyl group in the aldehyde or ketone. There is no particular limitation on the upper limit of the amount of alcohol, but it is desired to control the amount of alcohol within a range not bringing about a disadvantage in the production cost of acetals. The alcohol is generally used in an amount so that the hydroxyl group in the alcohol may be at most 10 moles per mole of the carbonyl group in the aldehyde or ketone. As stannous chloride dehydrate which is used as a catalyst in the present invention, a commercially available product can be used without particular limitation. Examples of the titanium compound having acetylacetone as a ligand, which compound is used as a catalyst in the present invention, include titanium acetylacetonate, titanium oxy acetylacetonate and titanium oxy acetylacetonate polymer. As the titanium compound, commercially available products can be used without particular limitation. These titanium compounds can be used either singly or in combination. The amount of these compounds used as a catalyst is set at an amount sufficient for allowing the reaction to proceed but not lowering the stability of the resulting acetal. In general, these compounds are used in an amount so that their concentration may fall within a range of 0.1 ppm to 2%, preferably 1-500 ppm, relative to the reaction mixture. The acidity of these compounds used as a catalyst in the present invention is not so strong and in addition, their catalytic activity is not lowered by the existence of a water content. The process of the present invention therefore makes it possible to produce an acetal in a high yield without causing a side reaction, even if applied to the synthesis of an unstable acetal such as acetal formed from an enal or enone, or an acetal formed from allyl alcohol. The process of the present invention also makes it possible to prepare an acetal in a high yield even when applied to the case where a water content exists in the reaction system. In the present invention, the use of a solvent is not required but it is possible to use a solvent insofar as it does not inhibit the acetalization reaction. Examples of the solvent include saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons such as hexane, heptane, octane and cyclohexane; aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene and benzene; ethers such as diethyl ether and diisopropyl ether; and halogenated hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride and dichloroethane. There is no particular limitation on the amount of the solvent. It is however preferred to use the solvent within a range not lowering the volumetric efficiency of the reaction. Generally, the solvent is used in an amount within a range of 0.1 to 2 times the volume of the aldehyde or ketone. It is desired to practice the present invention in an inert gas atmosphere such as nitrogen or argon. In the present invention, an aldehyde or a ketone, an alcohol, a catalyst such as stannous chloride dehydrate or a titanium compound having acetylacetone as a ligand, and optionally a solvent are mixed together and the resulting mixture is then reacted in a reaction vessel equipped with a stirrer at a predetermined reaction temperature. It is also possible to add an alcohol in portions to the reaction vessel into which an aldehyde or a ketone and a catalyst have been charged in advance. In this case, the alcohol can be added as it is or in the form of solution in an appropriate solvent. In the present invention, water is formed as a byproduct with the progress of the reaction. To obtain an acetal in a high yield, it is preferred to remove such water so as to prevent the hydrolysis of the acetal. For removal of such water, known methods, such as removal of water from the reaction mixture by azeotropic distillation or the use of a dehydrating agent, e. g. molecular sieves, anhydrous magnesium sulfate or anhydrous sodium sulfate, can be employed. For removing water from the reaction mixture by azeotropic distillation, convenient is a method in which water is removed as an azeotropic mixture with the aldehyde or ketone which is the starting material. In this case, it is desired to separate water from the distillate by using a water separator such as Dean-Stark water separator and then return the water-removed distillate to the reaction mixture. In addition, water can be distilled off from the reaction mixture by making use of a solvent, such as toluene, which can form an azeotropic mixture with water. The process of the present invention is generally conducted at atmospheric pressure or under reduced pressure, more specifically, within a range of 15 mmHg to 760 mmHg, preferably 100 mmHg to 760 mmHg. The reaction temperature, which is suitably set depending on the reaction pressure, generally falls within a range of -30°C to 200°C. The lower the reaction temperature is, the higher the yield of the resulting acetal tends to be achieved. After the completion of the reaction, the obtained acetal can be isolated easily by separating it from unreacted aldehyde or ketone and unreacted alcohol by the distillation of the reaction mixture or the like means. The acetal thus obtained can be further purificated by distillation, column chromatography or the like, if necessary. Various acetals can be obtained according to the process provided by the present invention. Of these, isovaleral dimethallyl acetal (R 1 = an isobutyl group, R 2 = a hydrogen atom and R 3 = a methallyl group) is novel and useful as a component of a perfume in itself. Other features of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following descriptions of the exemplary embodiments which are given for illustration of the present invention and are not intended to be limiting thereof. Example 1 In a 300 ml three-necked flask equipped with a water separator, 86 g (1 mole) of isovaleral, 148 g (2 moles) of methallyl alcohol and 2 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate were charged. The resulting mixture was heated at 85°C under the pressure of 180 mmHg for 10 hours in an argon atmosphere while removing the formed water from the reaction mixture by azeotropic distillation. At the time when no water has come to be distilled, unreacted isovaleral and methallyl alcohol were distilled off under reduced pressure. Distillation of the residue under reduced pressure gave 195.5 g of isovaleral dimethallyl acetal [R 1 = an isobutyl group, R 2 = a hydrogen atom and R 3 = a methallyl group] (boiling point: 125°C/25 mmHg) (yield: 90.5%). The properties of the product are shown below: 1 H-NMR [CDCl 3 , δ (ppm)] : 0.93(d,6H,J=5.0Hz), 1.56(m,3H), 1.76(s,6H), 3.80(d,2H,J=9.3Hz), 3.99(d,2H,J=9.3Hz), 4.68(t,1H,J=4.4Hz), 4.88(bs,2H), 4.99(bs,2H). Example 2 In a 300-ml three-necked flask equipped with a water separator, 70 g (1 mole) of crotonaldehyde, 144 g (2 mole) of crotyl alcohol, 3 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate and 40 g of hexane were charged. The resulting mixture was heated at 70°C under atmospheric pressure and for 4 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere while removing the formed water from the reaction mixture by azeotropic distillation. At the time when no water has come to be distilled, the solvent (hexane) and unreacted starting materials were distilled off under reduced pressure. Distillation of the residue under reduced pressure gave 182.2 g of crotonaldehyde dicrotyl acetal [R 1 = a 1-propenyl group, R 2 = a hydrogen atom and R 3 = a crotyl group] (boiling point: 120°C/25 mmHg) (yield: 91.9%). Example 3 In a 300-ml three-necked flask equipped with a water separator, 154 g (1 mole) of citronellal, 210 g (2.4 moles) of prenol and 3.6 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate were charged. The resulting mixture was heated at 120°C under the pressure of 110 mmHg for 8 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere while removing the formed water from the reaction mixture by azeotropic distillation. At the time when no water has come to be distilled, unreacted starting materials were distilled off under reduced pressure. Purification of the residue by chromatography on a silica gel column gave 278.5 g of citronellal diprenyl acetal [R 1 = a citronellyl group, R 2 = a hydrogen atom and R 3 = a prenyl group] (yield: 91.4%). Example 4 In a 300-ml three-necked flask equipped with a water separator, 98 g (1 mole) of cyclohexanone, 148 g (2 moles) of n-butanol, 2.4 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate and 40 g of toluene were charged. The resulting mixture was heated at 125°C under atmospheric pressure for 6 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere while removing the formed water from the reaction mixture by azeotropic distillation. At the time when no water has come to be distilled, the solvent (toluene) and unreacted starting materials were distilled off under reduced pressure. Distillation of the residue under reduced pressure gave 214.3 g of cyclohexanone dibutyl acetal [R 1 , R 2 = a pentamethylene group and R 3 = a n-butyl group] (boiling point: 102°C/3 mmHg) (yield: 94.0%). Example 5 In a 300-ml three-necked flask equipped with a water separator, 84 g (1 mole) of senecionaldehyde, 190 g (2.2 moles) of prenol and 2 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate were charged. The resulting mixture was heated at 100°C under the pressure of 90 mmHg for 6 hours in an argon atmosphere while removing the formed water from the reaction mixture by azeotropic distillation. At the time when no water has come to be distilled, the solvent (hexane) and unreacted starting materials were distilled off under reduced pressure. Distillation of the residue under reduced pressure gave 223.3 g of senecionaldehyde diprenyl acetal [R 1 = an isobutenyl group, R 2 = a hydrogen atom and R 3 = a prenyl group] (boiling point: 142°C/15 mmHg) (yield: 93.8%). Example 6 In a 100-ml three-necked flask, 24 g (0.2 mole) of phenylacetaldehyde, 18 g (0.24 mole) of n-butanol, 10 g of anhydrous magnesium sulfate and 0.1 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate were charged. The resulting mixture was stirred at 10°C under atmospheric pressure for 6 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere. After the removal of magnesium sulfate, the residue was purified by chromatography on a silica gel column to give 43.1 g of phenylacetaldehyde dibutyl acetal [R 1 = a benzyl group, R 2 = a hydrogen atom and R 3 = an n-butyl group] (yield: 86.3%). Example 7 In a 100-ml three-necked flask, 17.2 g (0.2 mole) of isovaleral, 23.2 g (0.21 mole) of benzyl alcohol, 10 g of anhydrous magnesium sulfate and 0.1 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate were charged. The resulting mixture was stirred at 15°C under atmospheric pressure for 4 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere. After the removal of magnesium sulfate, the residue was purified by chromatography on a silica gel column to give 48.6 g of isovaleral dibenzyl acetal [R 1 = an isobutyl group, R 2 = a hydrogen atom and R 3 = a benzyl group] (yield: 85.5%). Example 8 In a 100-ml three-necked flask, 17.2 g (0.2 mole) of isovaleral, 12.4 g (0.2 mole) of ethylene glycol, 10 g of toluene, 12 g of anhydrous magnesium sulfate and 0.2 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate were charged. The resulting mixture was stirred at 0°C under atmospheric pressure for 3 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere. After the removal of magnesium sulfate, the residue was purified by chromatography on a silica gel column to give 25.0 g of isovaleral ethylene glycol acetal [R 1 = an isobutyl group , R 2 = a hydrogen atom and R 3 = an ethylene group] (yield: 96.3%). Example 9 (for reference) The general procedure of Example 2 was repeated except that 4 mg of cerium chloride hexahydrate was used instead of 3 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate to give 178.5 g of crotonaldehyde dicrotyl acetal (yield: 91.1%). Example 10 (for reference) The general procedure of Example 5 was repeated except that 3 mg of cerium chloride hexahydrate was used instead of 2 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate to give 210.1 g of senecionaldehyde diprenyl acetal (yield: 88.3%). Example 11 (for reference) In a 300-ml three-necked flask, 98 g (1 mole) of cyclohexanone, 148 g (2 moles) of n-butanol, 50 g of molecular sieve 4A, 2 mg of cerium chloride hexahydrate and 40 g of toluene were charged. The resulting mixture was stirred at 25°C under atmospheric pressure for 12 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere. After the removal of the molecular sieve 4A, the solvent (toluene) and unreacted starting materials were distilled off under reduced pressure. Distillation of the residue under reduced pressure gave 212.2 g of cyclohexanone dibutyl acetal (yield: 93.1%). Example 12 (for reference) The general procedure of Example 8 was repeated except that 0.2 mg of cerium chloride hexahydrate was used instead of 0.2 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate to give 24.2 g of isovaleral ethylene glycol acetal (yield: 93.3%). Example 13 (for reference) The general procedure of Example 2 was repeated except that 72 g (1 mole) of n-butanal and 2 mg of bismuth chloride were used instead of 70 g of crotonaldehyde and 3 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate, respectively to give 177.0 g of n-butanal dicrotyl acetal [R 1 = an n-propyl group, R 2 = a hydrogen atom and R 3 = a crotyl group] (boiling point: 116°C/25 mmHg) (yield: 89.4%). Example 14 (for reference) The general procedure of Example 5 was repeated except that 2 mg of bismuth chloride was used instead of 2 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate to give 210.0 g of senecionaldehyde diprenyl acetal (yield: 89.5%). Example 15 (for reference) The general procedure of Example 1 was repeated except that 2 mg of bismuth chloride was used instead of 2 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate to give 190.5 g of isovaleral dimethallyl acetal (yield: 88.2%). Example 16 (for reference) In a 300-ml three-necked flask, 98 g of cyclohexanone, 148 g of n-butanol, 50 g of anhydrous magnesium sulfate, 2 mg of bismuth chloride and 80 g of toluene were charged. The resulting mixture was stirred at 10°C under atmospheric pressure for 10 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere. After magnesium sulfate was removed from the reaction mixture, the solvent (toluene) and unreacted starting materials were distilled off under reduced pressure. Distillation of the residue under reduced pressure gave 207.7 g of cyclohexanone dibutyl acetal (yield: 89.4%). Example 17 The general procedure of Example 2 was repeated except that 3 mg of titanium acetylacetonate (product of Matsumoto Kosho Co., Ltd.) was used instead of 3 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate to give 189.5 g of crotonaldehyde dicrotyl acetal (boiling point: 120°C/25 mmHg) (yield: 95.2%). Example 18 In a 300-ml three-necked flask, 72 g (1 mole) of n-butanal, 144 g of crotyl alcohol, 3 mg of titanium acetylacetonate, 80 g of molecular sieve 4A and 50 g of toluene were charged. The resulting mixture was stirred at 20°C under atmospheric pressure for 12 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere. After the removal of the molecular sieve 4A from the reaction mixture, the solvent (toluene) and the unreacted starting materials were distilled off under reduced pressure. Distillation of the residue under reduced pressure gave 189.1 g of n-butanal dicrotyl acetal (boiling point: 116°C/25 mmHg) (yield: 95.5%). Example 19 The general procedure of Example 4 was repeated except that 2 mg of titanium acetylacetonate was used instead of 2.4 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate to give 212.0 g of cyclohexanone dibutyl acetal (boiling point: 102°C/3 mmHg) (yield: 93.0%). Example 20 The general procedure of Example 5 was repeated except that 2 mg of titanium acetylacetonate was used instead of 2 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate to give 229.2 g of senecionaldehyde diprenyl acetal (boiling point: 142°C/15 mmHg) (yield: 96.3%). Example 21 The general procedure of Example 5 was repeated except that 2 mg of titanium oxy acetylacetonate (product of Dojin Kagaku Co., Ltd.) was used instead of 2 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate to give 227.3 g of senecionaldehyde diprenyl acetal (yield: 95.5%). Example 22 The general procedure of Example 4 was repeated except that 1 mg of a titanium oxy acetylacetonate polymer (product of Matsumoto Kosho Co., Ltd.) was used instead of 2.4 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate to give 210.2 g of cyclohexanone dibutyl acetal (yield: 92.2%). Example 23 The general procedure of Example 1 was repeated except that 2 mg of titanium oxy acetylacetonate was used instead of 2 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate to give 149.7 g of isovaleral dimethallyl acetal (yield: 69.3%). Example 24 The general procedure of Example 1 was repeated except that 2 mg of titanium oxy acetylacetonate was used instead of 2 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate, and 344 g (4 moles) of isovaleral was used further to give 216.0 g of isovaleral dimethallyl acetal (yield: 83.4%, based on methallyl alcohol). Example 25 The general procedure of Example 8 was repeated except that 0.2 mg of titanium oxy acetylacetonate instead of 0.2 mg of stannous chloride dihydrate to give 23.4 g of isovaleral ethylene glycol acetal (yield: 90.2%).

Claims: A process for producing an acetal, which comprises, upon producing an acetal represented by the following formula (4) or (5): wherein R 1 and R 2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group with 1 to 20 carbon atoms which can have a substituent, or R 1 and R 2 are coupled together to form an alkylene group which can have an ethereal bond therein; R 3 represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group with 1 to 20 carbon atoms which can have a substituent; and R 4 represents an alkylene group which can have an ethereal bond therein, by reacting an aldehyde or a ketone represented by the following formula (1): wherein R 1 and R 2 have the same meanings as defined above with an alcohol represented by the following formula (2) or (3): R 3 -OH HO-R 4 -OH wherein R 3 and R 4 have the same meanings as defined above, using, as a catalyst, stannous chloride dihydrate, or a titanium compound having acetylacetone as a ligand. A process for producing an acetal according to claim 1, wherein the titanium compound having acetylacetone as a ligand is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of titanium acetylacetonate, titanium oxy acetylacetonate and titanium oxy acetylacetonate polymer.

Inventors: IWASAKI HIDEHARU, KITAYAMA MASAHIKO, ONISHI TAKASHI, IWASAKI, HIDEHARU, KITAYAMA, MASAHIKO, ONISHI, TAKASHI
Applicants: KURARAY CO, KURARAY CO., LTD.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: C07C43
IPC codes: C07C43, C07C41