Patent ID: 7321067

Claim:
A process for the preparation of a compound of formula wherein R 1 represents a linear or branched C 1 to C 5 alkyl radical, the process comprising performing an aldol condensation, in a water-containing reaction medium, between a glyoxal of formula wherein R 1 has the same meaning as defined above, and an α-hydroxy ketone of formula wherein R 1 has the same meaning as defined above, in the presence of catalyst of formula FeX 3 or MX 2 , wherein M is Zn 2+ , Mg 2+ , Cu 2+ , Fe 2+ or Ca 2+ and X is a C 1 -C 7 carboxylate, an halide or a acetylacetonate derivative of formula (R 2 COCHCOR 2 ) − , with R 2 representing a C 1 -C 3 alkyl group or a phenyl group.