COMBINED PRODUCTION OF PHENYLACETIC ACID ESTER AND PHENYLACETALDEHYDE

PURPOSE:To prevent the degradation of aldehyde in the distillation stage, by distilling out the low-volatile component from the reaction product produced by the coproduction of above compounds from a benzyl halide under specific condition, washing with an aqueous solution of a mineral acid, and washing the organic layer with an aqueous solution of a bicarbonate. CONSTITUTION:The titled process is carried out by (1) contacting a benzyl halide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, a basic substance and an aliphatic alcohol with a cobalt carbonyl catalyst, (2) distilling out the aliphatic alcohol and the low-volatile component from the reaction liquid obtained by the step 1, (3) washing the concentrated liquid obtained by the step 2 with an aqueous solution of a mineral acid, (4) washing the organic layer separated from the water layer in the step 3 with an aqueous solution of a bicarbonate, and (5) distilling the organic layer separated from the water layer in the step 4. Both of the titled compounds useful as the intermediates of pharmaceuticals, etc. can be obtained as the distillate. Since the degradation of phenylacetaldehyde in the step 5 is suppressed by the step 4, the treatment of the distillation bottom residue is unnecessary, and the objective compounds can be produced at the same time in high yield.