Improvements in or relating to process for producing paraacetylbenzyl acetate, para-(alpha-hydroxyethyl) benzyl acetate and para-(alpha-acetoxyethyl) benzyl acetate

摘要

Para-acetyl-benzyl acetate is obtained by heating para-ethyl-benzyl acetate in the liquid phase with gaseous oxygen in the presence of an oxidation catalyst; the product may be catalytically hydrogenated to yield para(alpha-hydroxy-ethyl) benzyl acetate, which is then acetylated to give para-(alpha-acetoxy-ethyl) benzyl acetate. Any metal oxide or hydroxide oxidation catalyst may be used, e.g. chromium oxide, a preferred catalyst being chromium oxide and calcium carbonate in the proportions of one to four by weight. The oxidation is preferably carried out between 110 DEG C. and 160 DEG C. at atmospheric, reduced, or slightly increased pressure. The oxygen may be pure or mixed with an inert gas, e.g. as air. Examples are given of the three steps of the process and also of the production of the starting material from ethyl benzene, which is converted by means of hydrogen chloride and paraformaldehyde into para-ethyl-benzyl chloride and the latter heated with sodium acetate and glacial acetic acid to give para-ethyl-benzyl acetate. The para-acetyl-benzyl acetate may be converted into the semicarbazone and the 2 : 4-dinitro-phenyl-hydrazone.