A NOVEL PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF SODIUM GAMMA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE

摘要

The present invention is directed to a process for the preparation of the saponification products of lactones, preferably three- to eight-membered lactones. The present invention is also directed to a process for the preparation of compounds having general formula (I): wherein M is selected from the group consisting of cationic species, preferably metal cations (even more preferably Na), from a compound having the formula (II): comprising reacting a compound having formula (II) with a suitable hydroxide salt (M-OH) (III) such as, preferably, sodium hydroxide, in an aqueous medium. The reaction preferably utilizes a continuous process method for the substantial consumption of reagent and continuous, semi-continuous, and/or batch-wise processing for final consumption of reagent.