2771. REPPE, W., AND MAGIN, A. Ketones. United States Patent 2,562,393, July 31, 1951. Chem. Abs., vol. 46, 1952, p. 2566.

Hydrocarbons or functionally substituted compounds containing an acetylenic linkage are treated with CO and H₂O in the presence of an alkali metal-Ni cyanide catalyst, for example, K₂Nl (CN)₄ (I) at 60°-200° and at least under 10 atm. pressure. At 60°-100°, insoluble polyketones and poly (keto carboxylic acids) (II) are obtained, while at 100°-200°, the primary products are low molecular weight and include monoketones and monocarboxylic and dicarboxylic acids; in both cases, cyclic saturated and unsaturated ketones are formed. A preferred reaction consists of charging C₂H₂ 10 gm. and CO 10 atm. at room temperature to a vessel containing (I) 240 and H₂O 1,200 gm. and heating 40 hr. at 100°; equimolar amounts of C₂H₂ and CO are added to maintain the pressure at 25 atm. The filtrate from the resulting mixture may be extracted with Et₂O to give the low-molecular products; the residue consists mainly of the K salts of (II), from which the free acids are obtained by treatment with H₂SO₄.

REYNOLDS, B. See abs. 594.