| abstract |
The present invention provides a process for preparing a diester compound of the following general formula (1), having a dimethylcyclobutane ring, wherein R<sup>1</sup> and R<sup>2</sup> represent, independently of each other, a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, the process comprising reacting a dimethylcyclobutanone compound of the following general formula (2), wherein R<sup>1</sup> is as defined above, with a phosphonic ester compound of the following general formula (3), wherein R<sup>2</sup> and R<sup>3</sup> represent, independently of each other, a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, to produce the diester compound (1), having a dimethylcyclobutane ring, |