Process for preparing vanillin (meth)acrylates

A process for preparing a (meth)acrylate of the general formula (I)

• wherein
• R2=—H, —OMe, —OEt, or —O—C3 to O—C10 alkyl, branched alkyl, or alkenyl,
• R3=H, Me, Et, or —C3 to C10 alkyl or alkenyl,
• R4=—Me or —H,
• the process comprising:
• reacting an alcohol of the general formula (II)
• wherein R2 and R3 are as defined above,
• with an activated (meth)acrylic acid derivate (III)
• wherein R4 is as defined above, and
• R1=—O(CO)C(CH2)CH3, or —O(CO)C(CH2)H, and
• precipitating the (meth)acrylate of the general formula (I) from a crude reaction mixture with an aqueous medium,
• wherein the reaction of the alcohol of the general formula (II) with the activated (meth)acrylic acid derivate (III) is carried out under solvent-free conditions, and
• the aqueous medium in the precipitation is selected from the group consisting of pure water, desalted water, an aqueous alcoholic solution, an aqueous ammonia solution, an aqueous (earth)alkali metal hydroxide solution, an aqueous (earth)alkali metal hydrogen carbonate solution, and a carbonate solution.