Process for producing methyl methacrylate.

摘要

Disclosed is a process for producing methyl methacrylate which comprises: (I) a step of reacting acetone and prussic acid to form acetonecyanhydrin; (II) a step of hydrating the acetonecyanhydrin obtained in the step (I) to form alpha -hydroxyisobutyric acid amide; (III) a step of reacting the alpha -hydroxyisobutyric acid amide obtained in the step (II) with methyl formate to form methyl alpha -hydroxyisobutyrate and formamide; (IV) a step of dehydrating the methyl alpha -hydroxyisobutyrate obtained in the step (III) to form methyl methacrylate; and (V) a step of decomposing the formamide obtained in the step (IV) into ammonia and carbon monoxide. The process can produce methyl methacrylate at high yields without by-production of acidic ammonium sulfate.