| abstract |
PURPOSE: To produce the titled compound useful in the industrial field, in high selectivity, without producing NH 3 as a by-product and producing formamide useful as a solvent or production raw material of cyanic acid at the same time, by reacting a carboxylic acid amide with a formic acid ester. n CONSTITUTION: The objective compound such as methyl α-hydroxyisobutyrate, etc. is produced by reacting a carboxylic acid amide of formula I (R 1 WR 3 are H, OH, 1W5C alkyl or alkenyl; R 4 and R 5 are H or 1W5C alkyl) (e.g. α-hydroxyisobutyramide) with formic acid ester of formula HCOOR 6 (R 6 is 1W8C alkyl), or reacting the carboxylic acid amide of formula I with an alcohol such as methanol and CO and if necessary a formic acid ester, in the presence of a catalyst comprising an amidine or a tertiary amine and a metal carboxnyl, at 50W400°C under partial pressure of CO. The formamide produced as a by-product is recycled and reused as the raw material of the carboxylic acid amide, etc. n COPYRIGHT: (C)1985,JPO&Japio |