Patent ID: 8101803

Claim:
A process for the preparation of alkylthio substituted aldehydes, ketones, and esters of formula I wherein E represents CO; R 1 represents H, C 1 -C 8 alkyl, C 1 -C 8 alkoxy or aryl; and R 2 , R 3 , R 4 and R 5 independently represent H, C 1 -C 8 alkyl or aryl which consists essentially of reacting an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound of the formula II wherein E, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are as previously defined with a sodium or potassium thiolate of formula III R 5 S − Na + or K + (III) wherein R 5 is as previously defined in the presence of a C 1 -C 4 alkane carboxylic acid and water.