Process for the preparation of hydroxy methylthiobutyric acid esters

摘要

A process for the preparation of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid ester which comprises (a) a first step of reacting 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyronitrile with sulphuric acid to produce 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyramide, and (b) a second step of reacting the 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyramide with an alcohol to produce a 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid ester, the two steps being carried out in the same reaction medium.