| abstract |
Alpha-arylalkanoic esters are prepared by reacting a trivalent iodine compound of the formulan wherein Ar is an aromatic hydrocarbon group and X and Y each represent a group which can be removed as an anion, with a carbonyl compound of the formulan where Ar¹ is an aromatic hydrocarbon group, R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and R¹ is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, in the presence of an orthocarboxylic ester having the general formula ZC(OR²)₃, wherein R² is an alkyl group and Z is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; the reaction being carried out in the presence of sulfuric acid in an amount from about 0.2 to about 0.8 mole per mole of the carbonyl compound. |