Process for producing aryloxyacetic acids

A process for producing an aryloxyacetic acid represented by the formula (2):

• wherein m represents an integer of 1 or 2, n represents an integer from 0 to 4,
• Ar represents an aromatic hydrocarbon ring,
• R independently represents an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, a cycloalkoxy group, an aryloxy group, a halogen atom, an alkylcarbonyl group, an arylcarbonyl group, a carboxyl group or a nitro group,
• comprising a step of reacting an oxygen-containing gas with an aryloxyethanol represented by the formula (1):
• wherein, m, n, Ar, and R, respectively, have the same meanings as defined above,
• in the presence of a catalyst comprising
• palladium and at least one of an indium compound and
• a copper compound in an aqueous medium and
• in the presence of 0.5 m equivalent or more of alkali per one mole of the aryloxyethanol represented by the formula (1).

A process for producing an aryloxyacetic acid represented by the formula (2):

• wherein m represents an integer of 1 or 2, n represents an integer from 0 to 4,
• Ar represents an aromatic hydrocarbon ring,
• R independently represents an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, a cycloalkoxy group, an aryloxy group, a halogen atom, an alkylcarbonyl group, an arylcarbonyl group, a carboxyl group or a nitro group,
• comprising a step of reacting an oxygen-containing gas with an aryloxyethanol represented by the formula (1):
• wherein m, n, Ar, and R, respectively, have the same meanings defined above,
• in the presence of a catalyst consisting essentially of platinum in an aqueous medium and in the absence of alkali or in the presence of less than 0.5 m equivalent of alkali per one mole of the aryloxyethanol represented by the formula (1).