GB902014A - A process for the preparation of tertiary acetylenic alcohols - Google Patents

Abstract

Tertiary acetylenic alcohols of the general formula:-<FORM:0902014/IV (b)/1> in which R and R1 represent aliphatic, aromatic, alicyclic, aromatic-aliphatic or heterocyclic radicals and R11 represents one of these groups or hydrogen, are prepared by reacting a ketone of formula <FORM:0902014/IV (b)/2> under superatmospheric pressure with acetylene or a mono-substituted acetylene of formula R11C­CH in the presence of not more than 1 gram atom or mole per 7 moles of the ketone of a catalyst consisting of one or more of the following:-alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal acetylides, alkali or alkaline earth metal enolates of the ketone, and alkali or alkaline earth metal compounds capable of forming under the reaction conditions and without the formation of water the corresponding acetylides or the enolates of the ketone and also in the presence of a solvent consisting of anhydrous liquid ammonia or an amine. It is preferred to use an excess of acetylene or mono-substituted acetylene with respect to the ketone. The preferred temperature range for carrying out the process is from -40 DEG to +40 DEG C. Examples are given of the preparation of (a) 3-methyl-but-1-yne-3-ol, (b) 3-methyl-1-phenyl-but-`-yne-3-ol, (c) 1,1-diphenyl - 1 - hydroxy-propyne-2 and (d) 3-methyl - 3 - hydroxy-pentyne-1. Specification 502,693 is referred to.