Abstract: A process for preparing alkanesulfonic acids from dialkyl sulfites comprises the following steps: rearrangement of dialkyl sulfite in the presence of a suitable catalyst to form the corresponding alkyl alkanesulfonate and hydrolysis of the resulting alkyl alkanesulfonate to give the corresponding alkanesulfonic acid.

Abstract: A process for producing an enyne derivative, and intermediate, which is useful for preparing compounds showing strong inhibiting activities against squalane.epoxidase of Eumycetes and strong anti-cholesterol activities. The process comprises reacting a compound of the formula:Z--CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.CH--W [I]wherein W is a halogen atom, and Z is a leaving group, with an amine in the presence of a base, if necessary, to obtain a compound of the formula: ##STR1## then reacting an acetylene derivative to this compound in the presence of a palladium catalyst, to obtain a compound of the formula: ##STR2## and, if necessary, N-alkylating this compound.