Method for preparing hydroxyphenyl carboxylic acid esters

Abstract

A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I) 1 wherein R1 and R2 are each independently of the other C1-C8alkyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl, m is 1, 2 or 3, preferably 2, n is an integer from 1 to 30, and R3 is an n-valent radical from linear or branched C4-C30alkyl, which is optionally interrupted by one or more oxygen atoms, or (when n=1-12) an n-valent radical from C5-C12cycloalkyl, or a radical R4—[NR5—CmH2m—]p, R4 is hydrogen, an n-valent radical from linear or branched C4-C30alkyl, which is optionally interrupted by one or more —NR5— groups, or (when n=1-12) an n-valent radical from C5-C12cycloalkyl, R5 radicals, each independently of any other(s), are hydrogen or methyl or —CmH2m—, preferably hydrogen, and p corresponds to the number of —[NR5—CmH2m—] groups that gives n —CmH2m— radicals per molecule, by reaction of a compound of formula (II) 2 wherein R is C1-C3alkyl, with a compound of formula (III) R3(OH)n  (III) wherein R3 and n have the definitions given, wherein the reaction takes place at a practically neutral acid value (pH) and in the presence of at least one alkali metal salt of an organic carboxylic acid, which salt is dissolved or suspended in the reaction mixture, or in the presence of a mixture of such alkali metal salts, (i) that alkali metal salt being formed from an alkali metal cation and an anion of an organic carboxylic acid and (ii) the organic carboxylic acid being at least partially volatile under the reaction conditions applied. Preferred alkali metal salts are alkali metal formate and alkali metal acetate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.