PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF 5 - OXOALKANOIC ACIDS, THEIR ESTERS AND THEIR NITRILS

摘要

of the disclosure: Process for the manufacture of 5-oxoalkanoic acids, their esters or nitrils, by reaction of a ketone containing at least one .alpha.-hydrogen atom, at elevated temperature, with an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated acid, its ester or nitril, in the liquid phase, in the presence of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: primary amines, primary aminoalcohols, primary aminocarboxylic acids, Schiff's bases of primary amines and the ketone used, and, if .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid eaters are reacted, the .beta.,aminopropionates formed from the latter esters and primary amines, which comprises conducting the reaction under a pressure above the vapor pressure of the reaction mixture and below 500 bars.