Process for producing 1-acetoxy-3-(substituded phenyl) propenes

A process for producing a 1-acetoxy-3-(substituted phenyl) propene compound represented by the general formula (I):

• in which formula (I), R1 and R2, respectively and independently from each other, represented a member selected from the groups consisting of a hydrogen atom and alkyl groups having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, R1 and R2 may form, together with carbon atoms located in the 2- and 3-positions of the propene group, a cyclic group;
• and A represents a member selected from a group of substituted phenyl groups represented by the formulae (II) and (III):
• wherein R3 and R4, respectively and independently from each other, represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, m represents an integer of 0 or 1 to 4, n represents an integer of 1 or 5 and k represents an integer of 1 or 2,
• comprising reacting a benzene compound selected from those represented by the general formulae (IV) and (V):
• in which formula (IV) and (V), R3 and R4 and n, m and k are as defined above, with a 2-alkenylidene diacetate compound represented by the general formula (VI):
• in which formula (VI), R1 and R2 are as defined above,
• in the presence of a catalyst comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of (a) halogenated boron compounds, (b) triflate compounds of Group 11 elements of the Periodic Table, (c) halogenated compounds of Group 12 elements of the Periodic Table, and (d) triflate compounds and halogenated compounds of tin and lanthanoid elements of atomic numbers 58 and 66 to 71.