Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing ?-hydroxyisobutyric acid amide by hydration of acetone cyanohydrin under the presence of a catalyst composed mainly of manganese oxide using a reactor in which at least two reaction regions are connected in series, the method being characterized by comprising: a step (B) of cyclically supplying at least a portion of a reaction liquid withdrawn from at least one reaction region to a first reaction region (I) in the reactor; and a step (b1) of further cyclically supplying at least a portion of the reaction liquid withdrawn from at least one reaction region to at least one reaction region other than the first reaction region. The method is also characterized in that an oxidizing agent is supplied to at least one reaction region in the reactor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing ?-hydroxyisobutyric acid amide by hydration of acetone cyanohydrin under the presence of a catalyst composed mainly of manganese oxide using a reactor in which at least two reaction regions are connected in series, the method being characterized by comprising: a step (B) of cyclically supplying at least a portion of a reaction liquid withdrawn from at least one reaction region to a first reaction region (I) in the reactor; and a step (b1) of further cyclically supplying at least a portion of the reaction liquid withdrawn from at least one reaction region to at least one reaction region other than the first reaction region. The method is also characterized in that an oxidizing agent is supplied to at least one reaction region in the reactor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing ?-hydroxyisobutyric acid amide by hydration of acetone cyanohydrin under the presence of a catalyst composed mainly of manganese oxide using a reactor in which at least two reaction regions are connected in series, the method being characterized by comprising: a step (B) of cyclically supplying at least a portion of a reaction liquid withdrawn from at least one reaction region to a first reaction region (I) in the reactor; and a step (b1) of further cyclically supplying at least a portion of the reaction liquid withdrawn from at least one reaction region to at least one reaction region other than the first reaction region. The method is also characterized in that an oxidizing agent is supplied to at least one reaction region in the reactor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing ?-hydroxyisobutyric acid amide by hydration of acetone cyanohydrin under the presence of a catalyst composed mainly of manganese oxide using a reactor in which at least two reaction regions are connected in series, the method being characterized by comprising: a step (B) of cyclically supplying at least a portion of a reaction liquid withdrawn from at least one reaction region to a first reaction region (I) in the reactor; and a step (b1) of further cyclically supplying at least a portion of the reaction liquid withdrawn from at least one reaction region to at least one reaction region other than the first reaction region. The method is also characterized in that an oxidizing agent is supplied to at least one reaction region in the reactor.

Abstract: The present provides a high-efficiency amide compound production catalyst to be used in producing an amide compound through hydration of a nitrile compound and a production method using it. The amide compound production catalyst is for producing an amide compound through reaction of a nitrile compound and water, and comprises a manganese oxide catalyst containing bismuth and further containing yttrium or vanadium. The method for producing an amide compound comprises reacting a nitrile compound and water in a liquid phase in the presence of the amide compound production catalyst.

Abstract: The present provides a high-efficiency amide compound production catalyst to be used in producing an amide compound through hydration of a nitrile compound and a production method using it. The amide compound production catalyst is for producing an amide compound through reaction of a nitrile compound and water, and comprises a manganese oxide catalyst containing bismuth and further containing yttrium or vanadium. The method for producing an amide compound comprises reacting a nitrile compound and water in a liquid phase in the presence of the amide compound production catalyst.

Abstract: A process for producing a catalyst for cyanhydrin hydration, which comprises a manganese oxide as a main component and is excellent in both physical strength and reaction activity, is provided, as well as a catalyst for cyanhydrin hydration obtained by the production process. Specifically, a process for producing a catalyst which is useful for cyanhydrin hydration and contains a manganese oxide as a main component, potassium, and one or more elements selected from the group consisting of bismuth, vanadium and tin, in which the above compounds are mixed together in an aqueous system; the resulting slurry precipitate is subjected to solid-liquid separation; and the resulting hydrous cake is dried in at least two separate stages comprising a predrying and a main drying, is provided, as well as a catalyst for cyanhydrin hydration obtained by the production process.

Abstract: A process for producing a catalyst for cyanhydrin hydration, which comprises a manganese oxide as a main component and is excellent in both physical strength and reaction activity, is provided, as well as a catalyst for cyanhydrin hydration obtained by the production process. Specifically, a process for producing a catalyst which is useful for cyanhydrin hydration and contains a manganese oxide as a main component, potassium, and one or more elements selected from the group consisting of bismuth, vanadium and tin, in which the above compounds are mixed together in an aqueous system; the resulting slurry precipitate is subjected to solid-liquid separation; and the resulting hydrous cake is dried in at least two separate stages comprising a predrying and a main drying, is provided, as well as a catalyst for cyanhydrin hydration obtained by the production process.

Abstract: A method for producing L-allysine acetal represented by general formula (II), comprising reacting D,L-allysinamide acetal represented by general formula (I) with cells of microorganism or treated cell product having an activity of stereoselectively hydrolyzing L-allysinamide acetal, wherein R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, each independently represent a lower alkyl group, or R1 and R2 are combined to form an alkylene group represented by [CH2]n, and n is 2 to 3. D,L-allysinamide acetal represented by general formula (I) is also in the scope of the invention. According to the present invention, L-allysine acetal useful as a raw material for medicine can be produced in a smaller number of steps at low costs.

Abstract: A process for preparing a lactate which includes: (a) preparing lactonitrile from prussic acid and acetaldehyde, (b) hydrating the lactonitrile to form lactamide, (c) forming the desired lactate and formamide from lactamide and formate (or methanol and carbon monoxide), (d) separating and collecting components, having a lower boiling point than that of lactate from the reaction liquid in step (c), by distillation under specified conditions, and (e) dehydrating formamide from step (d) to form prussic acid and recycling the prussic acid to step (a). Heretofore, lactates had been manufactured by forming lactonitrile (cyanohydrin) from acetaldehyde and prussic acid, and then esterifying lactonitrile with a mineral acid or the like. However, in this conventional process, ammonium salts were formed as by-products in an amount equal to that of the lactate.

Abstract: There is herein disclosed a process for preparing a lactamide by hydrating lactonitrile in the presence of a catalyst mainly comprising a manganese oxide, and a nitrogen-containing compound such as ammonia or diethylamine. According to this process, the lactamide can be obtained from lactonitrile in a high yield, while the high activity of the catalyst is maintained for a long period of time.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for producing .alpha.-hydroxyisobutyramide by hydration reaction of acetone cyanohydrin in the presence of a catalyst consisting essentially of manganese dioxide which process comprises pretreating the catalyst with a reducing agent. The above process is capable of eliminating the catalyst clogging trouble due to the deposition of the by-produced oxamide and thus proceeding with long-term reaction with the stabilized catalyst performance.

Abstract: Process for production of .alpha.-hydroxycarboxylic acid amide of the general formula (A), comprising hydrating cyanhydrin of the general formula (B) by the use of a modified manganese dioxide catalyst containing one or more of zirconium, vanadium, and tin, and an alkali metal element. ##STR1## wherein all the symbols are as defined in the appended claims.

Abstract: A process for optically isomerizing an optically active alpha-amino acid amide comprising heating a D-alpha-amino acid amide or an L-alpha-amino acid amide in the presence of a strongly basic compound; and a process for producing an L-alpha-amino acid, which comprises(1) subjecting a D,L-alpha-amino acid amide or a mixture of a major amount of a D-alpha-amino acid amide and a minor amount of an L-alpha-amino acid amide to the action of a microorganism having the ability to hydrolyze the L-alpha-amino acid to obtain a hydrolyzate containing the L-alpha-amino acid and D-alpha-amino acid,(2) separating the L-alpha-amino acid from the hydrolyzate and recovering the remaining D-alpha-amino acid amide.

Abstract: A commercially economical process for preparing a carboxylic acid ester from a carboxylic acid amide is disclosed. The process is very meritorious, since it produces neither ammonia nor ammonium sulfates. Rather, the process by-produces formamides which are very useful compounds as solvents. Further, formamide can easily be converted to hydrogen cyanide by dehydration. The process comprises reacting a carboxylic acid amide with a formic acid ester and/or methanol and carbon monoxide in the presence of a bicyclic amidine or tertiary amine catalyst and optionally in the co-existence of a metal carbonyl. An industrial process for preparing methyl methacrylate which is a materialization of the process shown above is described in detail referring to a figure.

Abstract: An .alpha.-amino acid is effectively separated and recovered from an aqueous solution containing at least an .alpha.-amino acid and its corresponding .alpha.-amino acid amide by performing ion-exchange electrodialysis in the presence of ammonia. A reaction product liquid obtained by biochemical asymmetric hydrolysis of a D, L-.alpha.-amino acid is used preferably as the raw material aqueous solution for dialysis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of tertiary olefins which comprises catalytically decomposing a tertiary ether to a tertiary olefin, wherein the catalytic decomposition of the tertiary olefin is carried out in the presence of a solid phosphoric acid catalyst which has been calcined at a temperature of at least 500.degree. C. in an inert gas.

Abstract: A process for producing efficiently and economically without using strong acids nor strong bases, .alpha.-amino acids from .alpha.-amino acid amides by hydrolyzing .alpha.-amino acid amides in an aqueous medium in the presence of ammonia. If necessary, the resultant hydrolyzate liquid from which .alpha.-amino acid has been removed may be reused.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of formaldehyde by subjecting methanol to dehydrogenation in the presence of a catalyst consisting of copper, zinc and selenium as metallic components.