| abstract |
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to a new compound of (3-Vinylphenyl)phenylmethane and a method for producing .alpha.-(3-benzoylphenyl)propionic acid of ketoprofen without difficulty at low cost and in a high yield. The method comprises the steps of: reacting (3-vinylphenyl)phenyl-methane with carbon monoxide and hydrogen, water or lower alcohol in the presence of a transition metal carbonylation catalyst to form .alpha.-(3-benzylphenyl)proplonic acid deriva-tive, and when the thus obtained compound is an aldehyde, oxidizing methylene group and formyl group of the compound simultaneously or sequentially, or when the obtained compound is an acid or its ester, oxidizing the methylene group of the compound, and if need be, it is followed by hydrolysis. |