Process for preparing cis-olefins
This is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 521,170, filed Nov. 5, 1974 abandoned. 
    
    
     Stereospecific syntheses of olefins according to Wittig&#39;s reaction by means of salt-free ylides are already known (see: Angew. Chem. 78 (1966), 677). Such ylide solutions had to be prepared hitherto according to the technically complicated sodium-amide method (Liebigs Ann. Chem. 619, (1958), 10; Angew. Chem. 77 (1965), 609). 
     The present invention provides an improved process for preparing cis-olefins of the formula ##STR2## wherein 
     R is straight-chain or branched (C 1  -C 15 ) alkyl or (C 2  -C 15 ) alkenyl and 
     R 1  is a straight-chain or branched (C 1  -C 20 ) alkyl or (C 2  -C 20 ) alkenyl group both being optionally substituted in 3-position or in farther position relative to the aldehyde group by hydroxy, lower carbalkoxy or (C 1  -C 3 ) acyloxy, which comprises dissolving an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal in a hexaalkylphophoric acid triamide, adding to the solution obtained a phosphonium salt of the formula 
     
         R--CH.sub.2 --P.sup.+ (C.sub.6 H.sub.5).sub.3 Br.sup.-,    I 
    
     and adding to the reaction mixture obtained an aldehyde of the formula ##STR3## and isolating the product obtained by known methods. 
     Suitable alkali metals or alkaline earth metals are preferably lithium, sodium and magnesium, especially potassium, furthermore calcium, strontium and barium. 
     The alkyl groups in the hexaalkylphosphoric acid triamide may be identical or different and have preferably from 1 to 4, especially 1 or 2 carbon atoms. The well-known easily obtainable hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide is especially preferred. 
     The process is generally carried out as follows: Crushed alkali metal or alkaline earth metal is introduced under nitrogen atmosphere into the hexaalkylphophoric acid triamide while stirring or shaking, whereby the original blue color of the solution turns reddish-brown. For reasons of simplicity the dissolution is effected at room temperature, but may be carried out generally at temperatures of from 10° to 80° C, preferably from 15° to 30° C. When the alkaline earth metal or alkali metal has dissolved completely after approximately 1 to 3 hours, an equivalent quantity or optionally an excess of up to 20%, preferably up to 10% of a phosphonium salt of formula I, wherein R preferably contains up to 10 carbon atoms, is added to the solution. The phosphonium salts may be obtained by known processes for instance by reacting corresponding α-bromosubstituted compounds with triphenyl phosphine. The phosphonium salt may be added as such or preferably in the form of a suspension in hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide. The quantity of hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide required per millimole of phosphonium salt or per milliequivalent of alkali metal or alkaline earth metal is generally in the range from 0.5 to 5 ml or more, preferably from 0.8 to 2 ml. The upper limit is not critical. 
     An aldehyde of formula II is then added to the ylide solution obtained. In these aldehydes R&#39; preferably contains 2 to 15 carbon atoms and may be substituted (preferably in terminal position by hydroxy, lower carbalkoxy or lower acyloxy, preferably a formyloxy or acetoxy group. 
     The reaction mixture is stirred at the chosen reaction temperature until the reaction is complete (at room temperature after about 8 to 15 hours). The olefin formed is isolated in known manner, for example by distillation or, in the case of high boiling compounds, by pouring on ice and subsequent extraction. 
     The aldehyde may as well be prepared in situ by oxidizing the ylide solution, for example by means of dry oxygen. In this manner symmetric cis-olefins of the formula ##STR4## are obtained, having a degree of purity of more than 95% according to gaschromatographic and spectroscopic analyses. They are valuable intermediates for organic syntheses and a series of these compounds has a pheromone effect on a number of lepidoptera. 
    
    
     The following examples illustrate the invention. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     Preparation of Ylide solution 
     Finely cut potassium was introduced in absolute hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide under a nitrogen atmosphere. The dark blue solution obtained heated after about 15 minutes turning reddish-brown. After 1 to 3 hours, when the potassium was completely dissolved, a suspension of an equivalent quantity of a phosphonium salt of formula I in absolute hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide was added. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     Preparation of cis-octene (4) 
     A ylide solution was prepared from 2.2 g (55 millimoles) of potassium and 20 g (50 millimoles) of triphenyl-n-butyl phosphonium bromide in 100 ml of hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide according to example 1 and 4.0 g (55 millimoles) of butyraldehyde were added. After 12 hours the octene(4) obtained was distilled from the reaction solution. It was taken up in pentane, the solution washed subsequently with diluted sulfuric acid, sodium hydrogen sulfite and water and dried with sodium sulfate. The pentane was removed from the octene(4) by distilling it over a Vigreux column. The remaining crude product was distilled. 
     Boiling point 760  = 120° C 
     Yield: 4.3 g = 76% 
     EXAMPLE 3 
     Preparation of cis-octane(4) by autoxidation 
     Dry oxygen was passed through an ylide solution prepared in an analogous manner to example 2. The batch was worked up as in example 2. 
     Boiling point 760  = 120° C 
     Yield: 2.0 g = 70% 
     EXAMPLE 4 
     Preparation of cis-9-alkenol-1-acetates 
     An ylide solution was prepared from 0.94 g (24 millimoles) of finely cut potassium in about 50 ml of absolute hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide and 24 millimoles of triphenylethyl phosphonium bromide. The dimethylamine formed in this process was removed in vacuo as far as possible while excluding humidity. After stirring for 4 hours 20 millimoles (4.0 g) of 9-acetoxynonanal were added while cooling with water, the whole was stirred over night and the reaction mixture was poured on ice water acidified with a small quantity of diluted sulfuric acid. 
     The unsaturated ester was extracted with n-hexane. The combined hexane extracts were washed with diluted sulfuric acid in order to remove small quantities of hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide. Unreacted aldehyde was separated from the unsaturated ester via the hydrogensulfite addition compound and triphenylphosphine formed during the reaction via triphenylmethyl phosphonium iodide. Small quantities of triphenyl phosphine oxide extracted by n-hexane completely crystallized during the night at about -25° C and were filtered off with suction. After drying the n-hexane was removed in vacuo and the colourless oily residue was distilled. 
     The yield was 2.2 g (50%) of cis-9-undecenol-1-acetate. Boiling point 0 .01 84° C. 
     In the same manner a number of other compounds having pheromone effect on various lepidoptera were prepared by varying R, for example, 
     
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cis-9-dodecenol-1-acetate                                                 
                 boiling point.sub.0.1                                    
                            101 - 102° C                           
(R = n-propyl)   yield       2.3 g (51%).                                 
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     This compound has a repellent effect on males of the pine shoot moth (Evetria buoliana Schiff.) and is the sexual attractment of males of Paralobesia viteana. 
     
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cis-9-tridecenol-1-acetate                                                
                 boiling point.sub.0.01                                   
                              97° C                                
(R = n-butyl)    yield       2.6 g (54 %)                                 
cis-tetradecenol-1-acetate                                                
                 boiling point.sub.0.01                                   
                             102 - 104° C                          
(R = pentyl)     yield       2.6 g (51 %)                                 
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     This compound is the sexual attractant of females of Spodoptera furgiperda, as well as a component of the pheromone of Adoxophyes orana. 
     
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cis-9-pentadecenol-1-acetate                                              
                  boiling point.sub.0.01                                  
                              118° C                               
(R = n-hexyl)     yield      2.8 g (57 %)                                 
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     EXAMPLE 5 
     Preparation of cis-11-alkenol-1-acetates 
     These substances were prepared in an analogous manner as in example 4, by using 4.6 g (20 millimoles) of 11-acetoxyundecanal instead of 9-acetoxyanonanal. 
     The following compounds having a pheromone effect were obtained: 
     
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cis-11-tridecenol-1-acetate                                               
          boiling point.sub.0.01                                          
                               101° C                              
(R = n-ethyl)                                                             
          yield                2.5 g (52%)                                
cis-11-tetradecenol-1-acetate                                             
          boiling point.sub.0.15                                          
                               103° C                              
(R = n-propyl)                                                            
          yield                2.3 g (45%)                                
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     This compound is the sexual attractant of the females of Argyrotaenia velutinana, Choristoneura rosaceana, Ostrinia nubilalis, Ancylis spectrana, Zeiraplera diviana and a component of pheromone of Adoxophyses orana. It also has an attracting effect on cabbage moth. 
     
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cis-11-hexadecenol-acetate                                                
                  boiling point.sub.0.1                                   
                             108° C                                
(R = n-pentyl)    yield      2.6 g (47 %)                                 
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     EXAMPLE 6 
     Preparation of cis-9-tetradecene-ol-1-formiate 
     3.8 g of 9-formuloxynonanal were added to an ylide solution of 0.94 g of potassium and 9.3 g of n-pentyltriphenyl phosphonium bromide prepared according to example 4. After stirring for 12 hours the mixture was working up as in example 4. 
     The yield was: 2.5 g (52%) of cis-9-tetradecene-ol-1-formiate 
     boiling point: 0 .01 : 97° to 100° C 
     The compound had an attracting effect on males of Heliothis zea 
     EXAMPLE 7 
     Preparation of 2-methyl-cis-7-octadecene 
     0.94 g (24 millimoles) of finely cut potassium in about 50 ml of absolute hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide were reacted with 10.92 g (24 millimoles) of isooctylphenyl phosphonium bromide giving the corresponding ylide, this was then reacted with 3.8 g (20 millimoles) of n-undecanal giving the olefin. The whole was worked up as in example 4. 
     The yield was 2 g (37%) of 2-methyl-cis-7-octadecene, boiling point: 125° to 129° C/0.2 mm Hg. 
     When reacting this compound with m-chlorobenzoic acid the corresponding cis-epoxide was obtained, the sexual attracant of the great gipsy moth (Lymantria dispar). 
     EXAMPLE 8 
     Preparation of cis-9-trans-12-tetradecadienol-1-acetate 
     4.0 g of acetoxynonanal was added dropwise to an ylide solution prepared according to example 4 by using (E-3-pentenyl)-triphenyl phosphonium bromide. The mixture was stirred for 12 hours at room temperature and worked up as in example 4. Yield: 2.1 g (43%) of cis-9-trans-12-tetradecadienol-1-acetate, boiling point 0 .04 110° to 112° C 
     This compound is the sexual attractant of the females of Plodia interpunctuella, Anagasta kuhniella and Laphygma exigua. It is moreover a component of the pheromone of cadra cutella and prodenia eridiana. 
     EXAMPLE 9 
     Preparation of cis-9-unsaturated propionates and butyrates 
     The preparation was carried out as in example 4, but using, instead of the 9-acetoxynonanal, either 3.96 g (20 millimoles) of 9-oxynonyl-1-propionate or 4.24 g (20 millimoles) of 9-oxynonyl-1-butyrate. The following compounds were obtained: 
     
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cis-9-dodecenyl-1-propionate                                              
boiling point.sub.0.05 96 - 97° C                                  
                     yield 2.83 g (62 %)                                  
cis-9-tetradecenyl-1-butyrate                                             
boiling point.sub.0.01 118 - 121° C                                
                     yield 2.97 g (55 %)                                  
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     EXAMPLE 10 
     Preparation of 9-unsaturated carboxylic acid methyl esters 
     The corresponding ylide solutions were reacted with 9-oconanoic acid methyl ester (3.4 g, 20 millimoles) as in example 4. The following substances were obtained: 
     
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cis-9-dodecenoic acid methyl ester                                        
boiling point.sub.0.03                                                    
             82 - 83° C                                            
                        yield   2.08 g (49 %)                             
cis-9-trans-12-tetradecadienoic acid methyl ester                         
boiling point.sub.0.05                                                    
             97 - 99° C                                            
                        yield   2.34 g (50 %)                             
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