Patent ID: 7402709

Claim:
Process for obtaining a compound of formula (IV) in which X 1 and X 2 , the same or different, are linear or branched C1-C8 alkyls, n and m are 0, 1 or 2, with the proviso that n and m cannot be simultaneously 0; or (OX 1 )n and (OX 2 )m taken together form an O-T-O group where T is chosen from —CH 2 —, —CH 2 CH 2 —, —CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 —, —C(CH 3 ) 2 —, said process comprising the following passages: (i) treating a chloromethyl derivative of formula (I) with an alkaline acetate to form the acetyl derivative of formula (II), where X 1 , X 2 , m and n have the aforesaid meanings; (ii)hydrolyzing compound (II) to form the alcohol (III), where X 1 , X 2 , m and n have the aforesaid meanings; (iii) catalytic oxidation of the alcohol (III) to form the compound (IV) wherein the passage (iii) is conducted by treating in the liquid phase the product of passage (ii) with air or oxygen and an alkaline hydroxide used in a hydroxide/alcohol (III) equivalent ratio between 1 and 2, in the presence of a suitable oxidation catalyst.