Abstract: In the preparation of olefin derivatives having an ester group at the allylic position (hereinafter referred to as "allylic ester(s)") which comprises reacting an olefin having at least one hydrogen atom at the allylic position and which will produce an allylic ester having an asymmetric carbon atom with an organic peroxide in the presence of a copper catalyst, a method for producing optically active allylic esters characterized by using, as the copper catalyst, an optically active copper complex derived from an optically active compound selected from the group consisting of Schiff's bases of the formula: ##STR1## and amino acids of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sub.0 is an optically active alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl or aryl group which may contain an unsaturated bond and/or a substituent having a hetero atom, X and Y are each a hydrogen atom, an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl or aryl group, or a substituent having a hetero atom, R.sub.1 and R.sub.

Abstract: Esters are prepared by reaction of acyl halides and alcohols or hydroxyalkyl esters and acid halides in the presence of a tertiary amine and polar aprotonic solvents. Bis(2-methacrylatoethyl) phthalate is prepared by the reaction of phthaloyl chloride with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate in pyridine and acetone. Bis-phenol-A-bis(2-methacrylatoethyl)ether is prepared from 2,2-bis[4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]-propane and methacryl chloride in acetone.