A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (V): ##STR00001## comprising at least the step of reacting a compound of formula (VI) ##STR00002##
with a compound (VII) ##STR00003## wherein; R.sub.2 is hydrogen or a C1-C20 hydrocarbyl radical provided that at least one R.sub.2 is not hydrogen; R.sub.5 is hydrogen or a C1-20 hydrocarbyl group optionally containing one or more heteroatoms from groups 14-16; R.sub.6 is hydrogen or a C1-20 hydrocarbyl group optionally containing one or more heteroatoms from groups 14-16; n is 1, 2 or 3; each R.sub.8 is a C1-20 hydrocarbyl group; and Hal is a halide; in the presence of a nickel imidazolidin-2-ylidene compound.

The disclosure relates to the efficient preparation of aromatic hydrocarbons useful as intermediates for di-, tri-, tetra- and poly-dentate organophosphorus ligands having value in particular as hydroformylation catalysts. The use of triarylphosphine halide catalysts have been found to be more efficient in forming these intermediates by the use of excess triarylphosphine in an amount beyond what is required to form a coordination complex.

The disclosure relates to the efficient preparation of aromatic hydrocarbons useful as intermediates for di-, tri-, tetra- and poly-dentate organophosphorus ligands having value in particular as hydroformylation catalysts. The use of triarylphosphine halide catalysts have been found to be more efficient in forming these intermediates by the use of excess triarylphosphine in an amount beyond what is required to form a coordination complex.

The present invention relates to a 1-halo-7-methyltricosane compound of the following general formula (1), wherein X.sup.1 represents a halogen atom. The present invention relates also to a process for preparing a 17-methylalkane compound of the following general formula (4), wherein n represents an integer of 11 to 13, the process comprising the steps of converting the aforesaid 1-halo-7-methyltricosane compound (1) into a nucleophilic reagent, 7-methyltricosyl compound, of the following general formula (2), wherein M.sup.1 represents Li, MgZ.sup.1, CuZ.sup.1, or CuLiZ.sup.1, and Z.sup.1 represents a halogen atom or a 7-methyltricosyl group, subsequently subjecting the aforesaid nucleophilic reagent, 7-methyltricosyl compound (2), to a coupling reaction with an electrophilic alkyl reagent of the following general formula (3), wherein X.sup.2 represents a halogen atom or a p-toluenesulfonyloxy group, and n is as defined above, to form the aforesaid 17-methylalkane compound (4).

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a 1-halo-7-methyltricosane compound of the following general formula (1), wherein X.sup.1 represents a halogen atom. The present invention relates also to a process for preparing a 17-methylalkane compound of the following general formula (4), wherein n represents an integer of 11 to 13, the process comprising the steps of converting the aforesaid 1-halo-7-methyltricosane compound (1) into a nucleophilic reagent, 7-methyltricosyl compound, of the following general formula (2), wherein M.sup.1 represents Li, MgZ.sup.1, CuZ.sup.1, or CuLiZ.sup.1, and Z.sup.1 represents a halogen atom or a 7-methyltricosyl group, subsequently subjecting the aforesaid nucleophilic reagent, 7-methyltricosyl compound (2), to a coupling reaction with an electrophilic alkyl reagent of the following general formula (3), wherein X.sup.2 represents a halogen atom or a p-toluenesulfonyloxy group, and n is as defined above, to form the aforesaid 17-methylalkane compound (4).

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a 1-halo-2,6,14-trimethyloctadecane compound of the following general formula (1), wherein X.sup.1 represents a halogen atom. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing a 5,13,17-trimethylalkane compound of the following general formula (4), wherein n represents an integer of 14 to 18, the process comprising converting the aforesaid 1-halo-2,6,14-trimethyloctadecane compound (1) into a nucleophilic reagent, 2,6,14-trimethyloctadecyl, of the following general formula (2), wherein M.sup.1 represents Li or MgZ.sup.1, and Z.sup.1 represents a halogen atom or a 2,6,14-trimethyloctadecyl group, and subsequently subjecting the nucleophilic reagent, 2,6,14-trimethyloctadecyl compound (2), to a coupling reaction with an electrophilic alkyl reagent (3) of the following general formula (3), wherein X.sup.2 represents a halogen atom or a p-toluenesulfonyloxy group, and n is as defined above, to obtain the aforesaid 5,13,17-trimethylalkane compound (4).

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a 1-halo-2,6,14-trimethyloctadecane compound of the following general formula (1), wherein X.sup.1 represents a halogen atom. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing a 5,13,17-trimethylalkane compound of the following general formula (4), wherein n represents an integer of 14 to 18, the process comprising converting the aforesaid 1-halo-2,6,14-trimethyloctadecane compound (1) into a nucleophilic reagent, 2,6,14-trimethyloctadecyl, of the following general formula (2), wherein M.sup.1 represents Li or MgZ.sup.1, and Z.sup.1 represents a halogen atom or a 2,6,14-trimethyloctadecyl group, and subsequently subjecting the nucleophilic reagent, 2,6,14-trimethyloctadecyl compound (2), to a coupling reaction with an electrophilic alkyl reagent (3) of the following general formula (3), wherein X.sup.2 represents a halogen atom or a p-toluenesulfonyloxy group, and n is as defined above, to obtain the aforesaid 5,13,17-trimethylalkane compound (4).

##STR00001##

The disclosure relates to the efficient preparation of aromatic hydrocarbons useful as intermediates for di-, tri-, tetra- and poly-dentate organophosphorus ligands having value in particular as hydroformylation catalysts. The use of triarylphosphine halide catalysts have been found to be more efficient in forming these intermediates by the use of excess triarylphosphine in an amount beyond what is required to form a coordination complex.

The disclosure relates to the efficient preparation of aromatic hydrocarbons useful as intermediates for di-, tri-, tetra- and poly-dentate organophosphorus ligands having value in particular as hydroformylation catalysts. The use of triarylphosphine halide catalysts have been found to be more efficient in forming these intermediates by the use of excess triarylphosphine in an amount beyond what is required to form a coordination complex.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a haloalkyl alkoxymethyl ether compound of the following general formula (1), wherein X.sup.1 represents a halogen atom, R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, an n-alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, or a phenyl group, and n represents an integer of 2 to 7, the process comprising the steps of converting a haloalkyl alkoxymethyl ether compound of the following general formula (1) into a nucleophilic reagent, (2n+2)-alkoxymethoxyalkyl compound, of the following general formula (2), wherein M.sup.1 represents Li, MgZ.sup.1, CuZ.sup.1, or CuLiZ.sup.1, Z.sup.1 represents a halogen atom or Z.sup.2, subsequently subjecting the nucleophilic reagent, (2n+2)-alkoxymethoxyalkyl compound (2), to a nucleophilic addition reaction with propylene oxide of the following formula (3), to obtain a hydroxyalkyl alkoxymethyl ether compound of the following general formula (4), and subjecting the hydroxyalkyl alkoxymethyl ether compound (4) to a halogenation reaction to obtain the aforesaid haloalkyl alkoxymethyl ether compound (1).

##STR00001##