METHOD OF PRODUCING KETOPANTOLACTONE Russian patent published in 2012 - IPC C07D307/60 C25B1/24 

FIELD: chemistry.

SUBSTANCE: present invention relates to a method of producing ketopantolactone, which is widely used in synthesis of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), as well as other biologically active substances. The method of producing ketopantolactone involves oxidative dehydrogenation of pantolactone under the action of electrochemically generated bromine from a bromide anion source in an electrolysis cell equipped with an anode, a cathode and a stir-bar in the medium of a chlorine-containing organic solvent in a two-phase system containing an organic and an aqueous layer while passing electrical current of 4-6 F per 1 mole pantolactone and stirring the reaction mass at a rate of 1-4 rps at temperature 35-70°C and pH of the medium equal to 0.5-1.5.

EFFECT: simple technology of producing ketopantolactone, avoiding the need to use dangerous (poisonous) and hard to handle molecular bromine, high conversion of the starting pantolactone and high output of the end product which reaches 85%.

4 cl, 12 ex, 1 tbl, 1 dwg