2-Aryl-propionic acid prepn. - by extractive methylation of aryl-acetonitrile and alkaline hydrolysis in aqueous - alkanol

摘要

Cpds of formula Ar-CH(CH3)-COOH (I) (where Ar = and R = H, alkyl, alkoxy or phenoxy) are prepd. by selective methylation of Ar-CH2-CN (II), using a extractive methylation of Ar-CH2-CN (II), using a extractive alkylation procedure, to give a mixture of cpds. Ar-C(CH3)2-CN (III) and Ar-CH(CH3)-CN (IV) which are submitted to alkaline hydrolysis in aqs. -alkanol, where only cpd. (IV) undergoes complete saponification to yield the desired salts of (I).