| abstract |
The present invention provides a process fornmore efficiently producing an α-hydroxycarboxylic acidnester wherein side reactions due to the α-hydroxycarboxylicnacid ester are inhibited or prevented inncomparison with prior art production processes. n The invention provides a process for producingnan α-hydroxycarboxylic acid ester comprising Steps 1 to 3:n Step 1. reacting, in the presence of oxygen, (i)na 1,2-diol with a 1,2-diol or (ii) a 1,2-diol with annalcohol to obtain a reaction product containing an α-hydroxycarboxylicnacid ester; Step 2. separating the α-hydroxycarboxylic acidnester from the reaction product obtained in Step 1 byndistillation under reduced pressure; and Step 3. feeding Step 1 with a mixture obtainednby partially or entirely removing water from the reactionnproduct, wherein the mixture contains an unreacted 1,2-diolnand/or alcohol. |