Patent ID: 7442827

Claim:
A process for producing a cyclopentanone-2,3,5-tricarboxylic acid triester represented by the general formula (IV): wherein R 5 , R 6 , and R 7 each independently represents an alkyl group which may have a substituent; the process comprising: (1) allowing an itaconic acid diester represented by the general formula (I): wherein R 1 and R 2 each independently represents an alkyl group which may have a substituent; to react with a metal salt of malonic acid diester represented by the general formula (II): wherein R 3 and R 4 each independently represents an alkyl group which may have a substituent, and M represents an alkali metal; to obtain a reaction mixture containing an adduct represented by the general formula (III): wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , and M are as defined above; and then (2) allowing said reaction mixture without isolating the adduct (III) from said reaction mixture to react with an alcohol and a metal alkoxide mixture to form the cyclopentanone-2,3,5-tricarboxylic acid triester represented by the general formula (IV).