VERFAHREN ZUR HERSTELLUNG VON 2-HYDROXY-4-METHYLTHIOBUTANSÄURE

摘要

A process for producing 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoic acid together with methanol, which comprises hydrating 2-hydroxy-4- methylthiobutyronitrile into 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanamide, reacting the amide with methyl formate to yield methyl 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutanoate and formamide, and hydrolyzing the methyl ester. The discharge of a large amount of ammonium sulfate can be prevented, because no sulfuric acid is used as the reactant. The by-product formamide and methanol are utilizable as the starting material of the reaction.