PROCESS FOR PREPARATION OF .ALPHA.-HYDROXYCARBOXYLIC ACID AMIDES

摘要

The invention relates to a process for production of .alpha.-hydroxycarboxylic acid amides which are intermediates for the production of fungicidally active compounds. 2-phenyl-2-Hydroxy-N-[2-(3-alkoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethyl]-acetamides of formula (I) (see formula I) are prepared by reacting a carbonyl compound of formula VIII (see formula VIII) with hydrogen cyanide to form an .alpha.-hydroxynitrile of formula IX (see formula IX) and the .alpha.-hydroxynitrile of formula IX is further reacted with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to form a 2-(3-alkoxy-4-hydroxypheny)-ethylamine of formula II (see formula II) and reacting the 2-(3-alkoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethylamine with an .alpha.-hydroxycarboxylic acid ester of formula III (see formula III) or a dioxolanone of formula IIIa (see formula IIIa).