| abstract |
A process is provided for producing N-acyl-acyloxy aromatic amine, such as 4-acetoxyacetanilide by reacting a hydroxy-aromatic ketoxime with a carboxylic acid anhydride, e.g. acetic anhydride, in the presence of phosphoric or oxalic acid as a Beckmann rearrangement catalyst. Preferably the ketoxime is prepared by reacting a hydroxy aromatic ketone such as 4-hydroxyacetophone with a hydroxyl amine salt, and the ketone is obtained by the Fries rearrangement of a phenolic ester, e.g. phenyl acetate or the Friedel-Crafts acylation of a phenolic compound, e.g. phenol, with an acylating agent, e.g. acetic acid. |