| abstract |
Formic acid is prepared by hydrolyzing methyl formate, the hydrolysis being carried out in the presence of from 0.5 to 3.0 moles, per mole of methyl formate, of a base which contains tertiary nitrogen atoms, boils at not less than 180 DEG C. under atmospheric pressure and has a pKa from 4 to 9, N-substituted imidazole derivatives being the preferred bases. |