Process for producing 2-substituted propionic acid

A process for producing 2-substituted propionic acid as represented by the following general formula III (hereinafter referred to as “compound III”):

• which process comprises the steps of (1-1) to (1-3):
• step (1-1) to cause adipic acid diester to react with alkoxide as represented by the following general formula:
• M(OR)n
• wherein R represents an alkyl group having 5 or less carbon atoms, M represents an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, and n represents the number corresponding to the valence of M, and (OR)'s of n in number can be either the same or different,
• successively subjecting the product obtained above to coupling with halomethylstyrene to obtain the compound I as represented by the following general
• wherein R′ represents an alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms,
• step (1-2) to cause said compound I to react with carbon monoxide and water or alcohol in the presence of a metal catalyst to obtain the compound II as represented by the following general formula II:
• wherein R′ represents an alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms, R″ represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms, and R′ and R″ can be either the same or different,
• step (1-3) to subject said compound II to decarboxylation and hydrolysis to obtain said compound III.

A process for producing a compound II as represented by the following general formula II:

• wherein R′ represents an alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms, R″ represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms, and R′ and R″ can be either the same or different,
• which process comprises the steps of:
• causing adipic acid diester to react with alkoxide as represented by the following general formula:
• M(OR)n
• wherein R represents an alkyl group having 5 or less carbon atoms, M represents alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, and n represents the number corresponding to the valence of M and (OR)'s of n in number can be either the same or different,
• successively subjecting the product obtained above to coupling with a compound as represented by the following general formula IV (hereinafter referred to as “compound IV”) to obtain said compound II,
• wherein X represents halogen atom, and R″ represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms.

A process for producing 2-substituted propionic acid as represented by the following formula III (compound III):

• which process comprises the steps of (2-1) and (2-2):
• step (2-1) to cause adipic acid diester to react with alkoxide as represented by the following general formula:
• M(OR)n
• wherein R represents an alkyl group having 5 or less carbon atoms, M represents alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, and n represents the number corresponding to the valence of M and (OR)'s of n in number can be either the same or different,
• successively subjecting the product obtained above to coupling with a compound IV as represented by the following general formula IV to obtain the compound II as represented by the general formula II:
• wherein X represents halogen atom, and R″ represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms, and
• wherein R′ represents an alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms, R″ represents hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms, R′ and R″ can be either the same or different, and
• step (2-2) to subject said compound II to decarboxylation and hydrolysis to obtain said compound III.

A process for producing a compound represented by the following formula II:

• wherein R′ represents an alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms, R″ represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms, and R′ and R″ can be either the same or different,
• which process comprises:
• obtaining a product by causing adipic acid diester to react with an alkoxide represented by the following formula:
• M(OR)n
• wherein R represents an alkyl group having 5 or less carbon atoms, M represents an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, and n represents the number corresponding to the valence of M, and (OR)'s of n in number can be either the same or different, and
• successively subjecting the said product to coupling to produce said compound of formula II.

A process for producing a compound represented by the following formula III:

• which process comprises:
• obtaining a product by causing adipic acid diester to react with an alkoxide represented by the following formula:
• M(OR)n
• wherein R represents an alkyl group having 5 or less carbon atoms, M represents an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, and n represents the number corresponding to the valence of M, and (OR)'s of n in number can be either the same or different, and
• successively subjecting the said product to coupling to obtain a compound represented by the following formula II:
• wherein R′ represents an alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms, R″ represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 4 or less carbon atoms, and R′ and R″ can be either the same or different, and
• subjecting said compound represented by formula II to decarboxylation and hydrolysis to obtain a 2-substituted propionic acid as represented by said formula III.