Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and to a process for continuously preparing ethylene cyanohydrin.

Abstract: A process for making a water-soluble ?-hydroxynitrile. A 1,2-epoxide and an inorganic cyanide salt are reacted in a solvent having aqueous methanol and a buffer therein to form ?-hydroxynitrile. The buffer substantially inhibits the formation of reaction products other than ?-hydroxynitrile. Optionally, water may be removed from the ?-hydroxynitrile by azeotropic distillation with acetonitrile and subsequently purified via vacuum distillation and filtration.

Abstract: A process for making a water-soluble &bgr;-hydroxynitrile. A 1,2-epoxide and an inorganic cyanide salt are reacted in a solvent having aqueous methanol and a buffer therein to form &bgr;hydroxynitrile. The buffer substantially inhibits the formation of reaction products other than &bgr;hydroxynitrile. Optionally, water may be removed from the &bgr;hydroxynitrile by azeotropic distillation with acetonitrile and subsequently purified via vacuum distillation and filtration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing (R)-4-cyano-3-hydroxybutyric acid ester derivatives and more particularly, to a process for preparing optically pure (R)-4-cyano-3-hydroxybutyric acid ester derivatives expressed by formula (1) in high yield by performing cyanation and sequential esterification of (S)-3,4-epoxybutyric acid salt as a starting material. In said formula, R represents linear or branched alkyl group with 1˜5 carbon atoms or benzyl group.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel process for the preparation of 1,1-cyclopropanedimethanol cyclic sulfite which comprises: (a) contacting 1,1-cyclopropanedimethanol with dialkylsulfite in the presence of a base; and (b) removing from the reaction mixture the alcohol reaction by-product. This process is incorporated in the additional novel processes for preparing 1-(hydroxymethyl)cyclopropaneacetonitrile and 1-(thiomethyl)cyclopropaneacetic acid.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optically active 4-substituted-2-hydroxybutanoate represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein X is Cl, Br, I or Cn, R is alkyl, and * shows an asymmetric carbon.The compounds which are useful as starting materials for medical agents, are obtained by a process comprising ring-opening optically active .alpha.-hydroxy-.gamma.-butyrolactone and esterifying the compound obtained.

Abstract: A process for the production of cyclopropanenitrile derivatives. A diol of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and each is a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group, branched or unbranched, or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkenyl group, branched or unbranched, or wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together is a C.sub.4 -C.sub.

Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of (5R)-1,1-dimethylethyl-6-cyano-5-hydroxy-3-oxo-hexanoate is described where a halo hydroxyester or other activated dihydroxyester is converted in two steps to the desired product.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for preparing 3-substituted-3-hydroxypropanenitriles.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for preparing 3-substituted-3-hydroxypropanenitriles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a 2,3-diaminoacrylonitrile derivative or salts thereof, having the formula ##STR1## wherein R represents an alkyl group (which may be substituted by unsubstituted or substituted phenyl groups, halogen atoms, C.sub.1-6 alkoxycarbonyl groups, carboxy groups, C.sub.1-6 alkoxycarbonyl C.sub.1-6 alkylthio groups, hydroxy groups, mercapto groups, cycloalkyl groups or heterocyclic groups containing oxygen atoms); an alkenyl group; a cycloalkyl group; an aryl group (which may be substituted by halogen atoms, C.sub.1-6 alkyl groups, nitro-groups, unsubstituted or substituted phenyl or phenoxy groups or heterocyclic groups containing oxygen atoms or sulfur atoms).The 2,3-diaminoacrylonitrile derivative can be used as starting materials for the production of pharmaceutical and/or agricultural intermediates such as cyanoimidazoles, cyanopyrazines or other cyano-substituted heterocycles.

Abstract: A novel, one-pot procedure for the preparation of N-acryloyl-.alpha.-amino acids involves the steps of:(i) reacting a ketone, an ammonium salt, and a cyanide salt in water, optionally in the presence of ammonium hydroxide and a co-solvent, to form an aminonitrile;(ii) acryloylating the aminonitrile in aqueous media to afford an acrylamidonitrile; and(iii) hydrolyzing with aqueous acid the acrylamidonitrile to provide the N-acryloyl-.alpha.-amino acid.