抄録
Oxidation of methyl isobutyl ketone was carried out by catalytic vapor-phase reaction, electrolysis, with potassium permanganate, with hypohalogenous acid, and by electrolytic haloform reaction. The fatty acids produced were examined by paper chromatography and possibility of preparing isovaleric acid by this method was examined. Catalytic vapor-phase oxidation failed to give any acid component, while permanganate and electrolytic oxidation chiefly produced isobutyric and acetic acids. Oxidation of isovalerylacetone, the acetylated product of methyl isobutyl ketone, with potassium permanganate afforded isovaleric acid in 88% yield. Isovaleric acid was also obtained in 65-87% yield by oxidation with hypohalogenous acid, and also by electrolytic haloform reaction with current efficiency of 64.8%, especially by the use of 17.8% potassium bromide as the electrolytic solution, at 6-9°, current of 2A, DA 8.83A/dm2, and voltage of 5.2V, and electrolysis carried out by maintaining the electrolytic solution at pH 9.6-11.5 by continuous neutralization with hydrochloric acid.
