Facile, Direct Reaction of Benzaldehydes to 3-Arylprop-2-Enoic Acids and 3-Arylprop-2-Ynoic Acids in Aqueous Medium

Wittig reactions of benzaldehydes, alkanals, and cycloalkanals as well as of acetophenones are carried out with alkoxycarbonyl methylidenetriphenylphosphoranes in 10 w% aqueous NaOH, where the cinnamates and alkenoates produced are hydrolysed in situ and the corresponding acids are obtained after mostly simple extractive work-up, often without employing organic solvents. Under the same conditions, benzaldehydes are reacted with alkoxycarbonyl bromomethy-lidenephosphorane to produce 3-arylprop-2-ynoic acids (arylpropiolic acids).