abstract |
Disclosed is a process for introducing a carboxyl group to an aromatic carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof, which comprises reacting a starting aromatic carboxylic acid, such as a benzoic acid, a biphenylcarboxylic acid, a naphthalenecarboxylic acid, a diphenylcarboxylic acid, or a derivative thereof, with a carbon tetrahalide in the presence of a cyclodextrin and an alkali metal hydroxide, thereby introducing a carboxyl group to the aromatic ring of the starting aromatic carboxylic acid or the derivative thereof in substitution for a hydrogen atom bonded thereto. By the process of the present invention, a desired aromatic polycarboxylic acid or a derivative thereof can be easily obtained with high selectivity. |