| abstract |
This refers to a process for the preparation of bicyclic 1,3-diketone salts of the formula (1): in which R1, R2, R3 and R4 are, each of them and independently of each other, hydrogen or alkyl (C1-4); A and E are, each of them and independently of each other, (C1-2) alkylene which may be substituted 1 to 4 times with a (C1-4) alkyl group, and M + is an alkali metal ion, an ion of alkaline earth metal or an ammonium ion, by oxidizing a compound of the formula (2): to a compound of the formula (3): and the subsequent conversation in a compound of the formula (1), either in the presence of a base and a catalytic amount of a cyanide, either in the presence of an alkali metal alcoholate or an alkaline earth metal alcoholate, and novel intermediate compounds in bicyclic lactones of the formula (3) to be used in said process. |