The present invention provides a process for preparing 2-isopropenyl-5-methyl-4-hexenoic acid of the following formula (4), comprising steps of: subjecting a Grignard reagent of the following general formula (1), wherein R.sup.1 represents a linear, branched, or aromatic monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and X represents a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, or an iodine atom, and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane to a deprotonation reaction to form a 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane derivative; and subjecting 2-methyl-3-buten-2-yl 3-methyl-2-butenoate of the following formula (3) to a rearrangement reaction in the presence of the 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane derivative to form 2-isopropenyl-5-methyl-4-hexenoic acid (4). ##STR00001##

The present invention provides a process for preparing 2-isopropenyl-5-methyl-4-hexenoic acid of the following formula (4), comprising steps of: subjecting a Grignard reagent of the following general formula (1), wherein R.sup.1 represents a linear, branched, or aromatic monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and X represents a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, or an iodine atom, and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane to a deprotonation reaction to form a 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane derivative; and subjecting 2-methyl-3-buten-2-yl 3-methyl-2-butenoate of the following formula (3) to a rearrangement reaction in the presence of the 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane derivative to form 2-isopropenyl-5-methyl-4-hexenoic acid (4). ##STR00001##

Methods for preparation of olefins, including 8- and 11-unsaturated monoenes and polyenes, via transition metathesis-based synthetic routes are described. Metathesis reactions in the methods are catalyzed by transition metal catalysts including tungsten-, molybdenum-, and ruthenium-based catalysts. The olefins include insect pheromones useful in a number of agricultural applications.

Methods for preparation of olefins, including 8- and 11-unsaturated monoenes and polyenes, via transition metathesis-based synthetic routes are described. Metathesis reactions in the methods are catalyzed by transition metal catalysts including tungsten-, molybdenum-, and ruthenium-based catalysts. The olefins include insect pheromones useful in a number of agricultural applications.

The present invention provides a process for preparing 2-isopropenyl-5-methyl-4-hexenoic acid of the following formula (4), comprising steps of: subjecting a Grignard reagent of the following general formula (1), wherein R.sup.1 represents a linear, branched, or aromatic monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and X represents a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, or an iodine atom, and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane to a deprotonation reaction to form a 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane derivative; and subjecting 2-methyl-3-buten-2-yl 3-methyl-2-butenoate of the following formula (3) to a rearrangement reaction in the presence of the 1, 1, 1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane derivative to form 2-isopropenyl-5-methyl-4-hexenoic acid (4).

##STR00001##

The present invention provides a process for preparing 2-isopropenyl-5-methyl-4-hexenoic acid of the following formula (4), comprising steps of: subjecting a Grignard reagent of the following general formula (1), wherein R.sup.1 represents a linear, branched, or aromatic monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and X represents a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, or an iodine atom, and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane to a deprotonation reaction to form a 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane derivative; and subjecting 2-methyl-3-buten-2-yl 3-methyl-2-butenoate of the following formula (3) to a rearrangement reaction in the presence of the 1, 1, 1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane derivative to form 2-isopropenyl-5-methyl-4-hexenoic acid (4).

##STR00001##

A process for process for preparing 6-isopropenyl-3-methyl-9-decenyl acetate of the following formula (3), wherein Ac represents an acetyl group, the process comprising steps of: preparing a nucleophilic reagent, 5-isopropenyl-2-methyl-8-nonenyl compound, of the following general formula (1): wherein M.sup.1 represents Li, MgZ.sup.1, ZnZ.sup.1, Cu, CuZ.sup.1, or CuLiZ.sup.1, wherein Z.sup.1 represents a halogen atom or a 5-isopropenyl-2-methyl-8-nonenyl group, from a 5-isopropenyl-2-methyl-8-nonenyl halide compound of the following general formula (4): wherein X.sup.1 represents a halogen atom; subjecting the nucleophilic reagent (1), 5-isopropenyl-2-methyl-8-nonenyl compound, to an addition reaction with at least one electrophilic reagent selected from the group consisting of formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, and 1,3,5-trioxane, followed by a hydrolysis reaction to form 6-isopropenyl-3-methyl-9-decenol of the following formula (2); and acetylating 6-isopropenyl-3-methyl-9-decenol (2) to form 6-isopropenyl-3-methyl-9-decenyl acetate (3).

##STR00001##

A process for process for preparing 6-isopropenyl-3-methyl-9-decenyl acetate of the following formula (3), wherein Ac represents an acetyl group, the process comprising steps of: preparing a nucleophilic reagent, 5-isopropenyl-2-methyl-8-nonenyl compound, of the following general formula (1): wherein M.sup.1 represents Li, MgZ.sup.1, ZnZ.sup.1, Cu, CuZ.sup.1, or CuLiZ.sup.1, wherein Z.sup.1 represents a halogen atom or a 5-isopropenyl-2-methyl-8-nonenyl group, from a 5-isopropenyl-2-methyl-8-nonenyl halide compound of the following general formula (4): wherein X.sup.1 represents a halogen atom; subjecting the nucleophilic reagent (1), 5-isopropenyl-2-methyl-8-nonenyl compound, to an addition reaction with at least one electrophilic reagent selected from the group consisting of formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, and 1,3,5-trioxane, followed by a hydrolysis reaction to form 6-isopropenyl-3-methyl-9-decenol of the following formula (2); and acetylating 6-isopropenyl-3-methyl-9-decenol (2) to form 6-isopropenyl-3-methyl-9-decenyl acetate (3).

##STR00001##

A method for producing a 1-acyloxy-2-methyl-2-propene represented by the following general formula (II), including reacting a carboxylic acid represented by the following general formula (I), isobutylene, and oxygen, in the presence of a catalyst, in a liquid phase, with an amount of the isobutylene used of more than 1 mol and 50 mol or less per 1 mol of the carboxylic acid.

##STR00001##

A method for producing a 1-acyloxy-2-methyl-2-propene represented by the following general formula (II), including reacting a carboxylic acid represented by the following general formula (I), isobutylene, and oxygen, in the presence of a catalyst, in a liquid phase, with an amount of the isobutylene used of more than 1 mol and 50 mol or less per 1 mol of the carboxylic acid.

##STR00001##