Patent ID: 7057079

Claim:
A method of synthesizing an alkenone compound corresponding to the formula: R 1 —C(O)—C(H)═C(H)—OR 2 (I) wherein R 1 represents a C1 to C4 alkyl group or a C1 to C4 alkyl group substituted by at least one halogen atom, or R 1 represents CF 3 C(O)CH 2 ; and R 2 represents aryl, substituted aryl, a C1 to C4 alkyl group or a C1 to C4 alkyl group, which is substituted by at least one halogen atom; said method comprising: reacting an acid anhydride or an acid halide corresponding to formula (II) R 1 —C(O)X (II) wherein X represents R 1 —C(O)—O or fluorine, chlorine or bromine and R 1 has the meaning given above, with a vinyl ether corresponding to formula (III) CH 2 ═C(H)—OR 2 (III) wherein R 2 has the meaning given above, in the presence of an “onium” salt of a carboxylic acid.