Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of 3-hydroxy-2-methylbenzoic acid and 3-acetoxy-2-methylbenzoic acid, which comprises reacting 3-chloro-2-methylphenol (3) with benzyl chloride to give 2-benzyloxy-6-chlorotoluene (4) subjecting this to a Grignard reaction with magnesium to give (3-benzyloxy-2-methylphenyl)magnesium chloride (5) reacting this with CO.sub.2 to give 3-benzyloxy-2-methylbenzoic acid (6) hydrogenating this or its alkali metal salts in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to give 3-hydroxy-2-methylbenzoic acid (2) and optionally acetylating this to give 3-acetoxy-2-methylbenzoic acid.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of N-carboxymethyleneanthranilic acid esters of the formula (3) ##STR1## by reacting a compound of the formula (1) ##STR2## in which R' is hydrogen or a straight-chain or branched alkyl radical having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are identical or different and independently of one another are hydrogen, halogen, NO.sub.2, a straight-chain or branched alkyl, alkoxy or halogenated alkyl radical having in each case 1 to 6 carbon atoms, with a glyoxylic acid ester of the formula (2)OHC--COOR (2)in which R is a straight-chain or branched alkyl radical having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, phenyl radical or benzyl radical, which are unsubstituted or mono- or polysubstituted by halogen or an alkyl or alkoxy group having in each case 1 to 4 carbon atoms, in the presence of a solvent at 0.degree. to 200.degree. C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of hydroxycarboxylic acid amides of the general formula (1): ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are identical or different and are hydrogen, halogen, cyano, a linear or branched alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having 7 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, R.sup.3 is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R.sup.4 is hydrogen or a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, together with the carbon atom to which they are attached, form a five- or six-membered cycloalkane ring, and n is an integer from 1 to 12, wherein an aniline of the general formula (2) ##STR2## in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of O-acylglycolanilides of the formula (1) ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are identical or different and are hydrogen, halogen, a nitro group, a cyano group, a straight-chain or branched alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or alkoxy group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having from 7 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms or an aryl group having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms,. R.sup.3 is hydrogen or a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and R.sup.4 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl radical, in which an aniline of the formula (2) ##STR2## in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 have the same meaning as in formula (1), and an O-acylglycolic acid of the general formula (3) ##STR3## in which R.sup.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of O-acyloxycarboxanilides of the formula (I) ##STR1## in which R is a radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, n is an integer from 1 to 10, R.sup.1 is hydrogen or an alkyl radical having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are identical or different and are hydrogen, an alkyl radical having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl radical having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl radical having 5 to 12 carbon atoms in the ring, an alkenyl or alkynyl radical having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, NO.sub.2, F, Cl, Br or CN, by reacting a chlorocarboxanilide of the formula (II) ##STR2## in which n, R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 have the abovementioned meaning, with an alkali metal carboxylate of the formula (III)R--COOMe (III),in which R has the abovementioned meaning and Me is an alkali metal, in the presence of an inert solvent and of a carboxylic acid having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, at 50.degree. to 200.degree. C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of hydroxycarboxanilides of the formula (1) ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are identical or different and are hydrogen, halogen, a nitro group, a cyano group, a straight-chain or branched alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having 7 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, R.sup.3 is hydrogen or a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms and n is an integer from 1 to 12, by reacting a halocarboxanilide of the formula (2) ##STR2## in which R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and n have the same meaning as in formula (1) and Hal is chlorine, bromine or iodine, with a basic compound in a solvent mixture comprising water and one or more polar aprotic solvents at a temperature of 40.degree. to 180.degree. C.