# US 5,350,863 A · Preparation of 3-(2'-oxyethyl)dihydro-2(3H)furanones

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- Number: US 5,350,863 A
- Document ID: US5350863A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/120,439
- Filed: 1993-09-14
- Granted: 1994-09-27
- Earliest claimed: 1992-09-18
- Assignees: BASF SE
- Inventors: Thomas Kuekenhoehner; Norbert Goetz; Rolf Fischer; Werner Schnurr; Dirk Borchers
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5350863A

## CPC

- C07D 307/33: in position 2, the oxygen atom being in its keto or unsubstituted enol form
- C07D: HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS (macromolecular compounds C08)

## Abstract

A process for preparing 3-(2'-oxyethyl)dihydro-2(3H)furanones of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is hydrogen or acetyl, by reacting ethylene oxide with acetoacetic acid esters of the general formula II ##STR2## where R.sup.2 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, which comprises carrying out the reaction in alcoholic solutions in the presence of alkali metal alkoxides at from 20.degree. to 100.degree. C. and from 1 to 20 bar, is described.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for preparing 3-(2'-oxyethyl)dihydro-2(3H) furanones of the general formula I ##STR6## where R.sup.1 is hydrogen or acetyl, by reacting ethylene oxide with acetoacetic acid esters of the general formula II ##STR7## where R.sup.2 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, which comprises carrying out the reaction in alcoholic solutions in the presence of alkali metal alkoxides at from 20 to 100.degree. C. and from 1 to 20 bar.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A process for preparing 3-(2'-oxyethyl)dihydro-2(3H) furanones as claimed in claim 1, wherein the molar ratio of alkali metal alkoxide to acetoacetic acid ester II 0.001:1-1:1.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A process for preparing 3-(2'-oxyethyl)dihydro-2(3H)furanones as claimed in claim 1, wherein the molar ratio of alkali metal alkoxide to acetoacetic ester II is 0.01:1-0.5:1.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A process for preparing 3-(2'-oxyethyl)dihydro-2(3H) furanones as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alkali metal alkoxide is sodium or potassium C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxide.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A process for preparing 3-(2'-oxyethyl)dihydro-2(3H)furanones as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alkali metal alkoxide is sodium methoxide, potassium methoxide, sodium ethoxide or potassium ethoxide.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A process for preparing 3-(2'-oxyethyl)dihydro-2(3H)furanones as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alkali metal alkoxide is sodium methoxide.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A process for preparing 3-(2'-oxyethyl)dihydro-2(3H) furanones as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alkali metal alkoxide is sodium methoxide and the alcoholic solution used is a methanolic solution.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A process for preparing 3-(2'-oxyethyl)dihydro-2(3H)furanones as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reaction is carried out at from 40 to 80.degree. C.