Abstract: A low temperature process for preparing an aromatic acid having formula (I), said process comprising reacting an aromatic aldehyde having formula (II) with a gas having an oxygen content of 1 to 100 weight percent, based on the total weight of the gas, at a temperature of about 20° C. to less than 100° C. in the presence of a supported Group VIII metal catalyst, and a solvent having a flash point greater than 95° C. and/or a melting point less than 55° C., provided that the flash point of the solvent is greater than the reaction temperature, wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a C1-C8 linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group. The process of the invention yields an aromatic acid in excellent yield, and (i) does not involve the use of deleterious oxidizing agents; (ii) is essentially free of by-products; and (iii) is accomplished at a temperature of less than 100° C.

Abstract: A low temperature process for preparing an aromatic acid having formula (I), 1

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for the synthesis of amino acid amides which comprise providing a fixed bed of a cation exchange resin, admixing a primary alcohol and an amino acid in a reaction vessel in fluid communication with the fixed bed to form a first mixture, contacting the fixed bed of cation exchange resin with the first mixture for a period of time, thereby causing amino acid ester intermediate to be formed on the cation exchange resin, adding liquid ammonia to the reaction vessel, and contacting the fixed bed of cation exchange resin with ammonia, the fixed bed having previously been contacted with the first mixture.