| abstract |
Disclosed is a process for preparing 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione, comprising reacting a pivalic acid alkyl ester with pinacolone in the presence of an alkali metal alkoxide catalyst using a pivalic acid alkyl ester as a solvent but using no other solvent or reacting them in an amide type or urea type solvent in the presence of an alkali metal alkoxide catalyst. Also disclosed is a process for preparing a 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanesione metal complex using the 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione obtained by the above process. The process for preparing 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione is an industrially advantageous process in which an alkali metal alkoxide that is easy to handle can be used as a catalyst for preparing 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione from a pivalic acid alkyl ester and pinacolone. |