Process for producing phenoxyalkene derivative

Abstract

A phenoxyalkene derivative having the formula ##STR1## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, ##STR2## and Y and Z are the same or different and respectively represent a hydrogen atom, trifluoromethyl group, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, nitro group or cyano group; R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group and R.sub.2 represents carboxyl, hydroxymethyl, allyloxycarbonyl, a lower alkoxycarbonyl, a lower haloalkoxycarbonyl, a S-lower alkylthiocarbonyl, carbamoyl, a N-lower alkylcarbamoyl or a N-phenylcarbamoyl group is produced by reacting a phenol compound having the formula ##STR3## with a dihalogen compound having the formula ##STR4## wherein R, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are defined above and X.sub.1 represents a halogen atom and X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are different and respectively represent a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, by a simultaneous reaction of an etherification and an unsaturated double bond formation, in the presence of a dehydrogenhalide agent and a polar solvent or a combination of a nonpolar solvent and a quaternary ammonium salt or a quaternary phosphonium salt.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a process for producing phenoxyalkene derivatives useful as agricultural chemicals.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It has been known that phenoxyalkene derivatives can be produced by reacting a phenol having the formula ##STR5## wherein R.sub.3 represents hydrogen atom or ##STR6## Y' and Z' are the same or different and respectively represent hydrogen atom, trifluoromethyl group, a halogen atom, or lower alkyl group, nitro group or cyano group, with a monohalogen compound having the formula ##STR7## wherein R.sub.4 represents a lower alkyl group; R.sub.5 represents carboxyl, hydroxymethyl, allyloxycarbonyl, a lower alkoxycarbonyl, a lower haloalkoxycarbonyl, a S-lower alkylthiocarboxyl, carbamoyl, a N-lower alkylcarbamoyl or a N-phenylcarbamoyl group in a solvent such as ketones e.g. acetone, and methylethyl ketone, ethers such as tetrahydrofuran, diethyl ether, methyl butyl ether, ethyleneglycol dimethyl ether; dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, dimethylsulfoxide, benzene, toluene and hexane, etc. in the presence of a dehydrogenhalide agent such as an alkali metal compound e.g. sodium or potassium compound or an alkaline earth metal compound e.g. calcium or magnesium compound.

However, a dehydrogenhalidation of the monohalogen compound is caused by this process. Thus, a large amount of the monohalogen compound should be used and a large amount of the by-products is produced to cause low yield of the object compound.

The inventors have studied to obtain a phenoxyalkene derivative having high purity in high yield. Thus, the special reaction mechanism of combination of an etherification and an unsaturated double bond formation in one step has been found.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to produce a phenoxyalkene derivative having high purity in high yield by a special reaction mechanism.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention have been attained by reacting a phenol compound having the formula ##STR8## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, ##STR9## and Y and Z are the same or different and respectively represent a hydrogen atom, trifluoromethyl group, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, nitro group or cyano group; with a dihalogen compound having the formula ##STR10## wherein R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; R.sub.2 represents carboxyl, hydroxymethyl, allyloxycarbonyl, a lower alkoxycarbonyl, a lower haloalkoxycarbonyl, a S-lower alkylthiocarboxyl, carbamoyl, a N-lower alkylcarbamoyl or a N-phenylcarbamoyl group; X.sub.1 represents a halogen atom, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are different and respectively represent a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom in a solvent in the presence of a dehydrogenhalide agent of an alkali metal compound or an alkaline earth metal compound to obtain a phenoxyalkene derivative having the formula ##STR11## wherein R, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are defined above.

It is preferable to add a quarternary ammonium salt such as benzyltrialkyl ammonium salt and tetraalkyl ammonium salt or a quaternary phosphonium salt such as benzyltrialkyl phosphonium salt and tetraalkyl phosphonium salt in a nonpolar solvent.

It is also preferable to carry out the reaction in a polar solvent without a quaternary salt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The reaction mechanism of the present invention is a novel mechanism of a combination of an etherification and an unsaturated double bond formation.

The phenols having the formula (I) are the compounds having the formula ##STR12## wherein Y and Z are the same or different and respectively represent a hydrogen atom, trifluoromethyl group, a halogen atom such as chlorine, bromine, fluorine or iodine atom; a lower alkyl group e.g. methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl and isobutyl group; nitro group and cyano group.

The dihalogen compounds used in the present invention include the compounds having the formula (II) wherein R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom; a lower alkyl group such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl and isobutyl group; R.sub.2 represents carboxyl, hydroxymethyl, allyloxycarbonyl; a lower alkoxycarbonyl such as methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, isopropoxycarbonyl and sec.-butoxycarbonyl group; a lower haloalkoxycarbonyl group such as .beta.-chloroethoxycarbonyl, .beta.-bromoethoxycarbonyl, .alpha.,.beta.-dibromopropyloxycarbonyl, and .beta., .beta.'-dibromoisopropyloxycarbonyl group; a S-lower alkylthiocarboxyl group such as S-methylthiocarboxyl, S-ethylthiocarboxyl and S-butylthiocarboxyl group; carbamoyl group; a N-lower alkylcarbamoyl group such as N-methylcarbamoyl, N-ethylcarbamoyl, N-isopropylcarbamoyl and N-isobutylcarbamoyl group; N-phenylcarbamoyl group; X.sub.1 represents a halogen atom and X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are different and respectively represent a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom.

When the reaction of the present invention is carried out in a polar solvent, the polar solvent can be a lower alcohol such as methanol and ethanol; ketones such as acetone, methylethyl ketone; ethers such as tetrahydrofuran, diethyl ether, methyl butyl ether, ethyleneglycol dimethylether, dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, and dimethylsulfoxide.

Sometimes, it is preferable to add a quaternary ammonium salt or a quaternary phosphonium salt such as benzyltrialkylammonium salts, benzyltrialkylphosphonium salts, tetraalkylammonium salts and tetraalkylphosphonium salts, for example, benzyltriethylammonium bromide, benzyltributylammonium chloride, benzyltriamylammonium chloride, benzyltrioctylammonium chloride, trioctylmethylammonium chloride, isobutyltributylammonium bromide, hexadecyltributylphosphonium bromide, tetrapropylammonium bromide, tetrabutylammonium bromide, tetrabutylammonium chloride, tetraamylammonium bromide, tetraamylammonium chloride, tetrahexylammonium bromide, tetrabutylphosphonium chloride, benzyltributylphosphonium chloride, benzyltriphenylphosphonium chloride, methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide and tetraphenylphosphonium chloride. It is preferable to select the quaternary ammonium salt or the quaternary phosphonium salt from benzyl tri-C.sub.1 -C.sub.16 alkylammonium salts, tetra-C.sub.1 -C.sub.16 alkylammonium salts, triphenyl C.sub.1 -C.sub.16 alkylammonium salts, benzyl tri-C.sub.1 -C.sub.16 alkylphosphonium salts, tetra-C.sub.1 -C.sub.16 alkylphosphonium salts, and triphenyl C.sub.1 -C.sub.16 alkylphosphonium salts.

The alkali metal compounds or alkaline earth metal compounds used in the reaction can be potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate.

It is preferable to use a solvent so as to smoothly perform the reaction, especially to use a solvent being stable in the reagents including the alkali metal compound and the alkaline earth metal compound.

In the reaction of the present invention, the dihalogen compound (II) is used at a molar ratio of 1.0 to 1.5 preferably 1.05 to 1.1 based on the phenol compound (I).

The alkali metal compound or the alkaline earth metal compound as a base is used at a molar ratio of 1 to 3 based on the phenol compound (I). The alkali metal compound or the alkaline earth metal compound can be used as an aqueous solution.

The quaternary ammonium salt or the quaternary phosphonium salt is used as a molar ratio of 0.005 to 0.05 preferably 0.008 to 0.015 based on the phenol compound (I).

In the reaction of the phenol compound (I) with the dihalogen compound (II), the reaction temperature can be 30.degree. to 150.degree. C. preferably 60.degree. to 120.degree. C. in a polar solvent and 50.degree. to 90.degree. C. preferably 60.degree. to 80.degree. C. in a nonpolar solvent presence of a quaternary salt.

The reaction time can be in a range of 4 to 8 hours. When the quaternary salt is used, after the reaction, the water phase is separated and the organic phase is washed with an acid and then with water and then, the solvents are removed by a distillation under a reduced pressure to obtain the object compound of the phenoxyalkene derivative (III).

When the quaternary salt is not used, a polar solvent is used, after the reaction, the solvent is distilled off and the resulting product was dissolved in a nonpolar solvent such as benzene, toluene, chlorobenzene and the solution is washed with water. The water phase is separated and the resulting organic phase is washed with an acid and then with water and then, the solvents are removed by a distillation under a reduced pressure to obtain the object compound of the phenoxyalkene derivative (III).

When the dihalogen compound (II) is not an ester, after the reaction, a conc. hydrochloric acid is added with stirring to be acidic and the water phase is separated and then, the solvent is distilled off to obtain the phenoxyalkene derivative (III).

In accordance with the process of the present invention, the phenol compound (I) and the dihalogen compound having saturated hydrocarbon chain (II) is used to react them in a novel reaction mechanism for preventing a side reaction and performing the etherification and the unsaturated double bond formation, whereby the object compound of the phenoxyalkene derivative having high purity can be obtained in high yield.

The present invention will be further illustrated by certain examples and references which are provided for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to be limiting the present invention.

EXAMPLE 1

In a reactor, 15 g of chlorobenzene and 15 g of water were charged, and 12.7 g (0.05 mole) of 4-(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenol, 15.8 g (0.055 mole) of ethyl 3,4-dibromopentanoate and 8.7 g (0.063 mole) of potassium carbonate and 0.3 g (0.001 mole) of tributylethylammonium bromide were added. They were refluxed for 6 hours to react them. The water phase was separated and the organic phase was washed with 5% hydrochloric acid and with water and then, chlorobenzene, ethyl 3,4-dibromopentanoate and low boiling by-products were distilled off at 100.degree. C. under a reduced pressure (0.02-0.05 mmHg) to obtain 18.1 g of ethyl 4-[4-(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenoxy]-2-pentenoate (n.sub.D.sup.20 1.5175). The yield was 95.1%.

The same process was repeated to obtain the same compound except using ethyl 3,4-dichloropentanoate 10.9 g (0.055 mole) instead of ethyl 3,4-dibromo-pentanoate 15.8 g (0.055 mole). The yield was 83.1%.

EXAMPLE 2

In a reactor, 15 g of toluene and 15 g of water was charged in a reactor and then, 12.7 g (0.05 mole) of 4-(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenol, 14.3 g (0.055 mole) of 3,4-dibromopentanoic acid, 16.6 g (0.12 mole) of potassium carbonate and 0.23 g (0.001 mole) of triethylbenzylammonium chloride were added. They were refluxed for 6 hours to react them and then, conc. hydrochloric acid was added to the reaction mixture with stirring to be acidic and then, the water phase was separated and the organic phase was washed with water and then, toluene and low boiling by-products were distilled off at 100.degree. C. under a reduced pressure (0.02-0.05 mmHg) to obtain 14.8 g of 4-[4-(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenoxy]-2-pentenoic acid (n.sub.D.sup.20 1.5284). The yield was 84.2%.

REFERENCE 1

In accordance with the process of Example 1 except using tributylethylammonium bromide, the reagents were refluxed for 6 hours to react them and the reaction mixture was cooled to the room temperature and 2 g (0.05 mole) of sodium hydroxide was added and then, the mixture was further stirred for 30 minutes. The mixture was treated as the process of Example 1 to obtain 6.0 g of ethyl 4-[4-(trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenoxy]-2-pentenoate. The yield was 31.5%.

REFERENCE 2

In accordance with the process of Example 1 except that tributylethylammonium bromide was not used and ethyl 3,4-dibromo-pentanoate is replaced to 11.4 g (0.055 mole) of ethyl 4-bromo-2-pentenoate, the reagents were refluxed for 6 hours to react them, and the reaction mixture was cooled to the room temperature and 2 g (0.05 mole) of sodium hydroxide was added and then, the mixture was further stirred for 30 minutes. The mixture was treated as the process of Example 1 to obtain 5.9 g of ethyl 4-[4-(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenoxy]-2-pentenoate. The yield was 31.0%.

EXAMPLE 3

In a reactor, 30 g of ethanol was charged and 12.7 g (0.05 mole) of 4-(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenol, 15.8 g (0.055 mole) of ethyl 3,4-dibromopentanoate, 8.7 g (0.063 mole) of potassium carbonate were charged. They were refluxed for 6 hours to react them. After the reaction, ethanol was distilled off from the reaction mixture and then 50 ml of toluene was added to the resulting mixture, and resulting solution was washed with water and then, the organic phase was washed with 5% hydrochloric acid and with water and then ethyl 3,4-dibromopentanoate and a lower boiling by-products were distilled off at 100.degree. C. under a reduced pressure of 0.02-0.05 mmHg to obtain 15.6 g of ethyl 4-[4-(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenoxy]-2-pentenoate (n.sub.D.sup.20 1.5175). The yield was 82.0%. The same process was repeated to obtain same compound except using ethyl 3,4-dichloropentanoate 10.9 g (0.055 mole) instead of ethyl 3,4-dibromopentanoate 15.8 g (0.055 mole). The yield was 73.6%.

REFERENCE 3

In accordance with the process of Example 3 except using 30 g of chlorobenzene instead of 30 g of ethanol, the reagents were refluxed for 6 hours to react them and the mixture was cooled to the room temperature and 2 g (0.05 mole) of sodium hydroxide was added and then, the mixture was further stirred for 30 minutes. The mixture was treated as the process of Example 1 to obtain 6.0 g of ethyl 4-[4-(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenoxy]-2-pentenoate. The yield was 31.5%.

EXAMPLE 4

In a reactor, 30 g of tetrahydrofuran was charged and 12.7 g (0.05 mole) of 4-(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenol, 14.3 g (0.055 mole) of 3,4-dibromopentanoic acid and 16.6 g of potassium carbonate were charged. They were refluxed for 6 hours to react them. After the reaction, tetrahydrofurane was distilled off from the reaction mixture and then 50 ml of chlorobenzene was added to the resulting mixture and then conc. hydrochloric acid was added to the resulting mixture with stirring to be acidic and then, the water phase was separated and the organic phase washed with water and then, chlorobenzene and low boiling by-products were distilled off at 100.degree. C. under a reduced pressure (0.02-0.05 mmHg) to obtain 13.2 g of 4-[4-(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenoxy]-2-pentenoic acid. (n.sub.D.sup.20 1.5284). The yield was 75%.

EXAMPLES 5 to 78

In accordance with the process of Example 1 or 3 except varying the kinds of the phenol compound and the dihalogen compounds, the corresponding derivatives were produced. The results are shown in Table 1 wherein the corresponding process to Example 1 using tributylethylammonium bromide is referred to as Reaction 1 and the corresponding process to Example 3 using a polar solvent of ethanol is referred to as Reaction 2.

TABLE 1__________________________________________________________________________Starting materials Yield (%)Example Reac- Reac-Reaction Reaction Dihalogen Product Physical tion tion1 2 Phenol compound compound Phenoxyalkene derivative property 1 2__________________________________________________________________________5 42 4-(4-chlorophenoxy) n-butyl 2,4-dibromo- n-butyl 4-[4-(4-chloro- n.sub.D.sup.20 95.247 84.5 phenol pentanoate phenoxy)phenoxy]-2- pentenoate6 43 4-(2,4-dichloropheno- 3,4-dibromo- 4-[4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) m.p. 79- 86.6 78.0 xy)phenol pentanoic acid phenoxy]-2-pentenoic 81.degree. C.7 44 4-(4-bromo-2- i-propyl 3,4- i-propyl 4-[4-(4-bromo- chlorophenoxy)phenol dibromopentanoate 2-chlorophenoxy)phenoxy]- n.sub.D.sup.20 96.010 83.0 2-pentenoate8 45 4-(3,5-dichloropyri- ethyl 3,4-di- ethyl 4-[4-(3,5-dichloro- dyl-2-oxy)phenol bromopentanoate pyridyl-2-oxy)phenoxy]- n.sub.D.sup.20 95.597 86.0 2-pentenoate9 46 4-(2-trifluoromethyl ethyl 3,4-di- ethyl 4-[4-(2-trifluoro- phenoxy)phenol bromohexanoate methylphenoxy)phenoxy]- n.sub.D.sup.20 94.431 81.6 2-hexenoate10 47 4-(4-trifluoromethyl allyl 2,4-dichloro- allyl 4-[4-(trifluoro- phenoxy)phenol pentanoate methylphenoxy)phenoxy]- n.sub.D.sup.20 79.018 70.0 2-pentenoate11 48 4-(4-trifluoromethyl n-butyl 3,4-dichloro n-butyl 4-[4-(4-trifluoro- phenoxy)phenol pentanoate methylphenoxy)phenoxy]- n.sub.D.sup.20 82.137 72.5 2-pentenoate12 49 4-(4-trifluoromethyl ethyl 3,4-dibromo- ethyl 4-[4-(4-trifluoro- phenoxy)phenol pentanethioate methylphenoxy)phenoxy]- n.sub.D.sup.20 93.365 83.1 2-pentenethioate13 50 4-(4-trifluoromethyl 3,4-dibromo- 4-[4-(4-trifluoro- m.p. 140- 81.6 71.0 phenoxy)phenol pentanoic amide methylphenoxy)phenoxy]- 142.degree. C. 2-pentenoic amide14 51 4-(4-trifluoromethyl n-octyl 3,4- n-octyl 4-[4-(4-trifluoro- phenoxy)phenol dibromopentanoate methylphenoxy)phenoxy]- n.sub.D.sup.20 91.145 80.8 2-pentenoate15 52 4-(4-trifluoromethyl sec.-butyl 2,4- sec.-butyl 4-[4-(4- phenoxy)phenol dichloropentanoate trifluoromethylphenoxy) n.sub.D.sup.20 80.812 74.0 phenoxy]-2-pentenoate16 53 4-(4-iodophenoxy) ethyl 4-bromo-3- ethyl 4-[4-(4-iodophenoxy) phenol chloropentanoate phenoxy]-2-pentenoate n.sub.D.sup.20 95.377 86.317 54 4-(4-bromophenoxy) ethyl 3,4-dibromo- ethyl 4-[4-(4-bromophenoxy) phenol pentanoate phenoxy]-2-pentenoate n.sub.D.sup.20 95.508 84.518 55 4-(4-trifluoromethyl n-butyl 3,4-dibromo- n-butyl 4-[4-(4-trifluoro- phenoxy)phenol pentanethioate methylphenoxy)phenoxy]-2- n.sub.D.sup.20 91.656 85.8 pentenethioate19 56 4-(2-bromophenoxy) 3,4-diiodopentanoic 4-[4-(2-bromophenoxy) m.p. 127- 80.3 74.3 phenol N-isopropylamide phenoxy]-2-pentenoic 128.degree. C. N-isopropylamide20 57 4-(4-chlorophenoxy) 2,4-dibromo- 4-[4-(4-chlorophenoxy) m.p. 117.degree. 76.1 68.1 phenol pentanoic anilide phenoxy]-2-pentenoic anilide21 58 4-(3-trifluoromethyl ethyl 3,4- ethyl 4-[4-(3-trifluorome- phenoxy)phenol dibromopentanoate thylphenoxy)phenoxy]-2- n.sub.D.sup.20 95.555 84.5 pentenoate22 59 4-(4-nitrophenoxy) ethyl 2,4-diiodo- ethyl 4-[4-(4-nitrophenoxy) phenol pentanoate phenoxy]-2-pentenoate n.sub.D.sup.20 78.288 69.823 60 4-(4-iodophenoxy) isopropyl 2,4- isopropyl 4-[4-(4-iodo- phenol dibromopentanoate phenoxy)phenoxy]-2- n.sub.D.sup.20 94.653 83.9 pentenoate24 61 4-(2-cyano- ethyl 3-bromo-4- ethyl 4-[4-(2-cyanopheno- n.sub.D.sup.20 85.525 75.5 phenoxy)phenol chloropentanoate xy)phenoxy]-2-pentenoate25 62 4-(4-methylphenoxy) ethyl 3,4- ethyl 4-[4-(4-methylpheno- n.sub.D.sup.20 94.492 86.2 phenol dibromohexanoate xy)phenoxy]-2-hexenoate26 63 4-(2-chloro-4-trifluo- ethyl 3,4- ethyl 4-[4-(2-chloro-4- romethylphenoxy) dibromopentanoate trifluoromethylphenoxy) n.sub.D.sup.20 95.183 85.1 phenol phenoxy]-2-pentenoate27 64 4-(2-chloro-4-trifluo- .beta.-bromoethyl .beta.-bromoethyl 4-[4-(2-ch- romethylphenoxy) 3,4-dibromopentanoate loro-4-trifluoromethyl- n.sub.D.sup.20 95.136 85.8 phenol phenoxy)phenoxy]-2-pente- noate28 65 4-(2-chloro-4-trifluo- allyl 2,4-dichloro-5- allyl 4-[4-(2-chloro-4- romethylphenoxy) methylhexanoate trifluoromethylphenoxy) n.sub.D.sup.20 77.625 70.0 phenol phenoxy]-5-methyl-2- hexenoate29 66 4-(4-trifluoromethyl- ethyl 2,4-dibromo- ethyl 4-[4-(4-trifluoro- 2-nitrophenoxy) pentanoate methyl-2-nitrophenoxy) n.sub.D.sup.20 92.243 82.5 phenol phenoxy]-2-pentenoate30 67 4-(3,5-dichloro- methyl 3,4-dibromo- methyl 4-[4-(3,5-dichloro- pyridyl-2-oxy)phenol pentanethioate pyridyl-2-oxy)phenoxy]-2- n.sub.D.sup.20 93.672 82.6 pentenethioate31 68 4-(3,5-dichloro- sec.-butyl 2,4- sec.-butyl 4-[4-(3,5-dich- pyridyl-2-oxy)phenol diiodohexanoate loropyridyl-2-oxy)phenoxy]- n.sub.D.sup.20 71.214 65.1 2-hexenoate32 69 4-(3,5-dichloro- allyl 2,4-dibromo- allyl 4-[4-(3,5-dichloro- pyridyl-2-oxy)phenol pentanoate pyridyl-2-oxy)phenoxy]- n.sub.D.sup.20 91.606 82.8 2-pentenoate33 70 hydroquinone ethyl 3,4-dibromo- ethyl 4-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)- n.sub.D.sup.20 63.233 54.8 pentanoate 2-pentenoate34 71 hydroquinone n-butyl 2,4-dibromo- n-butyl 4-(4-hydroxyphe- n.sub.D.sup.20 61.171 54.2 pentanoate noxy)-2-pentenoate35 72 hydroquinone allyl 3,4-dichloro- allyl 4-(4-hydroxypheno- pentanoate xy)-2-pentenaote n.sub.D.sup.20 55.283 49.436 73 4-(4-trifluoromethyl 3,4-dibromopentanol 4-[4-(4-trifluoromethyl- phenoxy)phenol phenoxy)phenoxy]-2- n.sub.D.sup.20 61.030 53.9 pentenol37 74 4-(4-bromophenoxy) 2,4-dichloropentanol 4-[4-(4-bromophenoxy) phenol phenoxy]-2-pentenol n.sub.D.sup.20 44.671 38.538 75 4-(4-trifluoromethyl .beta.-chloroethyl .beta.-chloroethyl 4-[4-(4- m.p. 129- 90.3 82.9 phenoxy)phenol 3,4-dibromopentanoate trifluoromethylphenoxy) 132.degree. C. phenoxy]-2-pentenoate39 76 4-(3,5-dichloro- 3,4-dibromopentanoic 4-[4-(3,5-dichloropyridyl- m.p. 157- 84.1 76.7 pyridyl-2-oxy)phenol acid 2-oxy)phenoxy]-2-pentenoic 159.degree. C. acid40 77 4-(4-phenoxy)phenol n-butyl 3,4- n-butyl 4-[4-(4-phenoxy) dibromopentanoate phenoxy]-2-pentenoate n.sub.D.sup.20 90.111 82.541 78 4-(5-bromopyridyl- n-butyl 3,4- n-butyl 4-[4-(5-bromopy- 2-oxy)phenol dibromopentanoate ridyl-2-oxyl)phenoxy]- n.sub.D.sup.20 89.191 81.5 2-pentenoate__________________________________________________________________________

EXAMPLES 79 to 89

In accordance with the process of Example 1 except replacing tributylethylammonium bromide by various quaternary salts shown in Table 2, ethyl 4-[4-(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenoxy]-2-pentenoate was obtained. The yields in the reactions are shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2______________________________________Example Quaternary salt Yield (%)______________________________________79 benzyltrimethylammonium chloride 92.180 benzyltriethylammonium bromide 94.081 benzyltrioctylammonium chloride 92.982 benzyltriphenylphosphonium chloride 93.583 tetraethylammonium bromide 93.584 tetrabutylammonium bromide 93.385 tetrahexylammonium bromide 92.086 trioctylmethylammonium chloride 93.087 tetrabutylphosphonium bromide 93.988 methyltriphenylphosphonium bromide 93.589 butyltriphenylphosphonium bromide 93.1______________________________________

EXAMPLES 90 to 97

In accordance with the process of Example 1 except replacing chlorobenzene by various nonpolar solvents shown in Table 3, ethyl 4-[4-(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenoxy]-2-pentenoate was obtained.

The yields in the reactions are shown in Table 3.

TABLE 3______________________________________Example Solvent Yield (%)______________________________________90 benzene 93.991 toluene 94.092 xylene 93.593 dichlorobenzene 93.194 chloroform 92.795 carbon tetrachloride 92.596 n-hexane 92.697 cyclohexane 92.5______________________________________

EXAMPLES 98-104

In accordance with the process of Example 3 except replacing ethanol by various polar solvents shown in Table 4, ethyl 4-[4-(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenoxy]-2-pentenoate was obtained.

The yields in the reactions are shown in Table 4.

TABLE 4______________________________________Example Polar solvent Yield (%)______________________________________ 98 methanol 80.1 99 acetone 82.1100 methylethyl ketone 81.5101 diethyl ether 79.7102 ethyleneglycol dimethyl ether 82.0103 dimethylformamide 84.7104 dimethylsulfoxide 85.0______________________________________

Claims

1. A process for produding a phenoxyalkene derivative having the formula ##STR13## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom, ##STR14## and Y and Z are the same or different and respectively represent a hydrogen atom, trifluoromethyl group, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, nitro group or cyano group; R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group and R.sub.2 represents carboxyl, hydroxymethyl, allyloxycarbonyl, a lower alkoxycarbonyl, a lower haloalkoxycarbonyl, a S-lower alkylthiocarboxyl, carbamoyl, a N-lower alkylcarbamoyl or a N-phenylcarbamoyl group which comprises reacting a phenol compound having the formula ##STR15## with a dihalogen compound at a molar ratio of 1.0 to 1.5 based on the phenol, having the formula ##STR16## wherein R, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are defined above and X.sub.1 represents a halogen atom and X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are different and respectively represent a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, by a simultaneous reaction of an etherification and an unsaturated double bond formation, in the presence of a dehydrogenhalide agent at a molar ratio of 1 to 3 based on the phenol, and a polar solvent or a combination of a non-polar solvent and a quaternary ammonium salt or a quaternary phosphonium salt, at a molar ratio of 0.005 to 0.05 based on the phenol, at a temperature between 30.degree. to 150.degree. C.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the reaction is carried out in a presence of a quaternary ammonium salt or a quaternary phosphonium salt at a molar ratio of 0.005 to 0.05 based on the phenol compound (I).

3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the reaction is carried out in a polar solvent and then polar solvent is distilled off and the product is purified.

4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the dihalogen compound (II) is the compound having the formula (II) wherein R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom; a lower alkyl group selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl and isobutyl group; R.sub.2 represents carboxyl, hydroxymethyl, allyloxycarbonyl; a lower alkoxycarbonyl selected from methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, isopropoxycarbonyl, and sec.-butoxycarbonyl group; a lower haloalkoxycarbonyl group selected from .beta.-chloroethoxycarbonyl, .beta.-bromoethoxycarbonyl, .alpha.,.beta.-dibromopropyloxycarbonyl, .alpha.,.beta.-dibromopropyloxycarbonyl and .beta.,.beta.'-dibromoisopropyloxycarbonyl group; a S-lower alkylthiocarboxyl group selected from S-methylthiocarboxyl, S-ethylthiocarboxyl and S-butylthiocarboxyl group; carbamoyl group; a N-lower alkylcarbamoyl group selected from N-methylcarbamoyl, N-ethylcarbamoyl, N-isopropylcarbamoyl and N-isobutylcarbamoyl group; or a N-phenylcarbamoyl group and X.sub.1, X.sub.2 and X.sub.3 are halogen atom selected from chlorine atom, bromine atom, and iodine atom.