Preparation of 1-aryloxy-methyl ketones

Abstract

A process for the preparation of a 1-aryloxy-methyl ketone of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 each independently is hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or optionally substituted aryl, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together are an alkylene chain, R.sup.4 each independently is halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, optionally substituted aryl or nitro, and n is 0, 1, 2 or 3, comprising hydrolyzing a 1-halogeno-2-aryloxy-1-alkene of the formula ##STR2## in which Hal is chlorine or bromine, under acidic conditions at a temperature from about 20.degree. to 150.degree. C. until it is about 95 to 100% complete, adding a base, and then bringing the reaction to completion under weakly alkaline conditions at about 20.degree. to 150.degree. C. Advantageously all stages of the reaction are effected in a single vessel at a temperature from about 40.degree. to 100.degree. C. and in the presence of an inert organic solvent, optionally in admixture with water as a solution or as a two-phase system, about 1 mol of a monobasic acid and 2 mols of alkali metal carbonate being employed per mol of the 1-halogeno-2-aryloxy-1-alkene. The end products are known intermediates for fungicides.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.