| 摘要 |
PURPOSE:Readily available alpha-acetoxypropionic acid and methanol are fed to a reaction medium that contains an acid catalyst and is kept at a specific temperature and the reaction is conducted as the product is distilled off, thus producing the titled compound used as a starting material of lactic acid or as a solvent in high yield. CONSTITUTION:alpha-Acetoxypropionic acid and methanol are continuously or intermittently fed in a reaction medium such as alpha-acetoxypropionic acid or its methyl ester which contains an catalyst of acid such as sulfuric, phosphoric or benzenesulfonic acid and is kept at 140-160 deg.C and the reaction between alpha- acetoxypropionic acid and methanol is effected as methyl lactate formed is distilled off out of the reaction system, thus producing methyl lactate. alpha-Acetoxypropionic acid is obtained by oxidation of alpha-acetoxypropionaldehyde, which is the product of the hydroformylation of vinyl acetate. EFFECT:This process shows high operation stability, produces less by-products and consumes less amounts of methanol. |
