The present invention relates to a process for producing specific α, β-unsaturated carboxylates.

The specific a,b-unsaturated carboxylates which are aimed to be produced are represented by the following formula (I) wherein

R ₁ is a Ci - C ₄ -alkyl moiety, preferably -CH ₃ OG -OH OH ₃ , and R ₂ is

(the * is showing where the bond is localized). These specific a,b-unsaturated carboxylates are useful compounds. They can be used as such or they are useful intermediates to produce other compounds, such as vitamins (especially Vitamin A acetate (via a reduction followed by an acetylation)).

Therefore due to the importance of such important intermediates, there is always a need for excellent methods of producing such compounds.

The new process to produce these compounds comprises a ruthenium catalyst and mild reaction conditions.

The process to produce these compounds is the following: a compound of formula (II) wherein the R ₁ and R have the same meanings as defined above for the compound of formula

(I) in the presence of at least one catalyst of formula (IV)

wherein

R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ and R ₆ signify independently from each other -CH ₃ , -OCH ₃ , -NO or halogen, and W, X, Y and Z signify independently from each other a neutral or ionic ligand, wherein W, X, Y and Z can be monodentate or bidentate with the proviso that the Ru is always six times coordinated, and m, n, 0 and p signify an integer 0, 1 , 2 or 3 q signifies an integer 1 , 2, 3 or 4.

The catalyst is always electronically neutral. Furthermore it is obvious that when one or two of the ligands W, X, Y or Z are bidentate, then only three or two ligands are present.

After the termination of the reaction (1 ^st cycle) the catalyst of formula (IV) has been transformed into the following form of formula (IV’), (IV”) and/or (IV’”)

or

wherein all substituents have the same meanings as defined above and wherein R ₇ is H or Ci- C ₄ alkyl moiety.

The compounds of formulae (IV’), (IV”) and (IV’”) are new.

Therefore the present invention relates to a process (P) for the production of a compound of formula (I) wherein

R ₁ is a C ₁ - C ₄ -alkyl moiety, preferably -CH ₃ or-CH ₂ CH ₃ , and R ₂ is

(the * is showing where the bond is localized), and wherein a compound of formula (II) wherein the R ₁ and R have the same meanings as defined above for the compound of formula

(I) in the presence of at least one catalyst of formula (IV)

wherein

R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ and R ₆ signify independently from each other -CH ₃ , -OCH ₃ , -NO or halogen, and W, X, Y and Z signify independently from each other a neutral or ionic ligand, wherein W, X, Y and Z can be monodentate or bidentate with the proviso that the Ru is always six times coordinated, and m, n, 0 and p signify an integer 0, 1 , 2 or 3 q signifies an integer 1 , 2, 3 or 4.

Preferred are compounds of formula (I), wherein

R ₁ is-CH ₃ or -CH2CH ₃ .

Therefore the present invention relates to a process (P1), which is process (P), wherein R ₁ is -CH ₃ or -CH ₂ CH ₃

Preferred are compounds of formula (I), wherein R ₂ is Therefore the present invention relates to a process (P2), which is process (P) or (P1), wherein R ₂ is

Most preferred are the compounds of formula (la) and (lb)

A very preferred catalyst is the one of formula (IVa), (IVb) or (IVc)

wherein R ₇ is H or CH ₃ .

Therefore the present invention relates to a process (P3), which is process (P), (P1) or (P2), wherein the catalyst of formula (IVa) is used. Therefore the present invention relates to a process (P3’), which is process (P), (P1) or (P2), wherein the catalyst of formula (IVb)

Therefore the present invention relates to a process (P3”), which is process (P), (P1) or (P2), wherein the catalyst of formula (IVc) wherein R ₇ is H or CH ₃ is used.

The substrate (starting material) to catalyst ratio (mol-based) is usually from 5000 : 1 to 10 : 1 , preferably from 1000 : 1 to 20 : 1. Therefore the present invention relates to a process (P4), which is process (P), (P1), (P2), (P3), (P3’) or (P3”), wherein the substrate (starting material) to catalyst ratio (mol-based) is 5000 : 1 to 10 : 1.

Therefore the present invention relates to a process (P4’), which is process (P), (P1), (P2), (P3), (P3’) or (P3”), wherein the substrate (starting material) to catalyst ratio (mol-based) is 1000 : 1 to 20 : 1.

The process according to the present invention is carried out without any solvents or in at least one apolar aprotic organic solvent.

As solvents there can be used in the scope of the present invention in general apolar aprotic organic solvents, especially aliphatic, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, such as, for example, C ₇ -C ₁₀ -alkanes, C ₅ -C ₇ -cycloalkanes, benzene, toluene and naphthalene as well as mixtures of such solvents with one another, e.g. paraffin oil (a mixture of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons). As well as carboxylate esters, such as ethyl acetate.

Therefore the present invention relates to a process (P5), which is process (P), (P1), (P2), (P3), (P3’), (P3”), (P4) or (P4’), wherein the process is carried out without any solvent.

Therefore the present invention relates to a process (P6), which is process (P), (P1), (P2), (P3), (P3’), (P3”), (P4) or (P4’), wherein the process is carried out in at least one apolar aprotic organic solvent.

Therefore the present invention relates to a process (P6’), which is process (P), (P1), (P2), (P3), (P3’), (P3”), (P4) or (P4’), wherein the apolar aprotic organic solvent is chosen from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbons, cyclic hydrocarbons aromatic hydrocarbons and carboxylate esters.

Therefore the present invention relates to a process (P6”), which is process (P6’), wherein the apolar aprotic organic solvent is chosen from the group consisting of C ₇ -C ₁₀ -alkanes, C ₅ -C ₇ - cycloalkanes, benzene, toluene, naphthalene, paraffin oil and ethyl acetate.

The process according to the present invention is usually carried out under very mild reaction condition. The reaction temperature is usually between -5°C and 60°C. Preferably between 0° and 50°C. More preferably between 5° and 45°C. Most preferably between 5° and 40°C. Therefore the present invention relates to a process (P7), which is process (P), (P1), (P2), (P3), (P3’), (P3”), (P4), (P4’), (P5), (P6), (P6’) or (P6”), wherein the process is carried out at a temperature of between -5°C and 60°C.

Therefore the present invention relates to a process (P7’), which is process (P), (P1), (P2), (P3), (P3’), (P3”), (P4), (P4’), (P5), (P6), (P6’) and (P6”), wherein the process is carried out at a temperature of between 0° and 50°C.

Therefore the present invention relates to a process (P7”), which is process (P), (P1), (P2), (P3), (P3’), (P3”), (P4), (P4’), (P5), (P6), (P6’) or (P6”), wherein the process is carried out at a temperature of between 5° and 45°C.

Therefore the present invention relates to a process (P7’”), which is process (P), (P1), (P2), (P3), (P3’), (P3”), (P4), or (P4’), (P5), (P6), (P6’) or (P6”), wherein the process is carried out at a temperature of between 5° and 40°C.

All reactants are added together and mixed. The reaction mixture is heated to the temperature at which the transition metal-based catalytic rearrangement reaction occurs, to provide a resulting mixture.

Furthermore, the addition of pivalic acid anhydride, compound of formula (V) can be added to the reaction mixture.

The pivalic acid anhydride can be added in amount of 0.01 - 0.75 mol equivalent (in regard of compound of formula (II)), preferably, 0.05 -0.4 mol equivalent (in regard of compound of formula (II)), 0.1 - 0.25 mol equivalent (in regard of compound of formula (II)).

Therefore the present invention relates to a process (P8), which is process (P), (P1), (P2), (P3), (P3’), (P3”), (P4), (P4’), (P5), (P6), (P6’), (P6”), (P7), (P7’), (P7”) or (P7”’), wherein the compound of formula (V) is added to the reaction mixture.

Therefore the present invention relates to a process (P8’), which is process (P8), wherein the compound of formula (V) is added in amount of 0.01 - 0.75 mol equivalent (in regard of compound of formula (II)).

Therefore the present invention relates to a process (P8”), which is process (P8), wherein the compound of formula (V) is added in amount of 0.05 -0.4 mol equivalent (in regard of compound of formula (II)).

Therefore the present invention relates to a process (P8’”), which is process (P8), wherein the compound of formula (V) is added in amount of 0.1 - 0.25 mol equivalent (in regard of compound of formula (II)).

After the reaction the catalyst (compound of formula(IV’), (IV”) and (IV’”)

wherein all substituents have the same meanings as defined above can be isolated by commonly known methods. Furthermore, the catalyst of formula (compound of formula (IV’), (IV”) and (IV’”) or

wherein

R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ and R ₆ signify independently from each other -CH ₃ , -OCH ₃ , -NO or halogen, and W, X, Y and Z signify independently from each other a neutral or ionic ligand, wherein W, X, Y and Z can be monodentate or bidentate with the proviso that the Ru is always six times coordinated, and m, n, 0 and p signify an integer 0, 1 , 2 or 3 q signifies an integer 1 , 2, 3 or 4, are new.

Therefore, another embodiment of the present invention are the compounds of formulae (IV’), (IV”) and (IV’”)

or

wherein

R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ and R ₆ signify independently from each other -CH ₃ , -OCH ₃ , -NO ₂ or halogen, and W, X, Y and Z signify independently from each other a neutral or ionic ligand, wherein W, X, Y and Z can be monodentate or bidentate with the proviso that the Ru is always six times coordinated, and m, n, 0 and p signify an integer 0, 1 , 2 or 3 q signifies an integer 1 , 2, 3 or 4.

Preferred compounds of formulae (IV’), (IV”) and (IV’”) are the compounds of formulae (IVa), (IVb), (IVc’) and (IVc”)

The following Example illustrates the invention further without limiting it. All percentages and parts, which are given, are related to the weight and the temperatures are given in °C, when not otherwise stated.

Examples

Example 1:

3-Methyl-1-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-1-en-1-yl)pent-1-en-4 -yn-3-ol (2.33 g, 10 mmol) and 2,2- dimethylpropanoic acid (1 .53 g, 15 mmol, 1 .5 eq.) were dissolved in anhydrous ethyl acetate (10 mL) under argon atmosphere. In a counter flow of argon, 61 mg (0.1 mmol, 1.0 mol%) of the [(dppe)Ru(2-methylallyl) ] were added, which formed the catalyst of formula (IVa). After stirring for 24 h at 20°C, the light yellow-brown reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure (rotavap, 20°C water-bath temperature). The crude product was dried for another 2 h at 20 mbar resulting in a light brown oil. The product of formula (la)

In the following table more compounds of formula (la) have been produced by the same way as in Example 1. Other reaction times and/or the reaction temperature and/or the amount of ethyl acetate (solvent) have been varied.

Example 2:

3-Methyl-1-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-1-en-1-yl)pent-1-en-4 -yn-3-ol (2.18 g, 10 mmol), 2,2- dimethylpropanoic acid (1.32 g, 11 mmol) and 2,2-dimethylpropanoic anhydride (0.4 mL, 2 mmol) were dissolved in anhydrous ethyl acetate (10 mL) under argon atmosphere. In a counter flow of argon, a solution of 61 mg (0.1 mmol, 1.0 mol%) of the [(dppe)Ru(2- methylallyl) ] in anhydrous acetone (5 mL) were added, which formed the catalyst of formula (IVa). After stirring for 18 h at 20°C a conversion of 89% 3-Methyl-1-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex- 1-en-1-yl)pent-1-en-4-yn-3-ol was observed.

In the following table more compounds of formula (la) have been produced by the same way as in Example 3. Other additives and/or solvent have been varied.

Example 3:

2,2-dimethylpropanoic acid (1.0 g, 9.8 mmol) and 60 mg (0.1 mmol) of the ruthenium catalyst of formula (IV) were dissolved in anhydrous ethyl acetate (15 mL) under argon atmosphere. After 0.5 h the solvent was evaporated for 2 hours (40 °C). The remaining solid was dissolved in anhydrous n- hexane at reflux and allowed to cool gradually from 60 °C to -20 °C for yellow sharp crystal formation to obtain the ruthenium catalyst of formula (IVb).

Example 4:

2,2-dimethylpropanoic acid (5.0 g, 49 mmol) and 60 mg (0.1 mmol) of the ruthenium catalyst of formula (IV) were dissolved in anhydrous ethyl acetate (10 mL) under argon atmosphere. After 0.5 h the solvent was evaporated for 2 hours (40 °C). The remaining solid was dissolved in acetone and slow diffusion of n- hexane were set up for yellow sharp crystal formation to obtain the ruthenium catalyst of formula (IVc’),