| abstract |
A 2-aryl-propionaldehyde of the formulan (wherein Ar denotes substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, especiallyn is produced in high yield by reacting a methyl aryl-ketone of the formula,n with phenyldimethylsulfonium methylsulfate of the formula,n in the presence of alkali metal hydroxide to obtain a reaction mixture containing 2-phenyl-1,2-epoxypropane of the formula.n and thioanisole, and subjecting the reaction mixture to contact with anhydrous MgCl 2 . The propionaldehyde compound is also produced in high yield by contacting the epoxypropane compound with anhydrous MgC1 2 in the presence of a soft nucleophile such as a sulfide, a thiol and a phosphine. |