Shell Oil Comapny

Arend Reinink

Roger A Sheldon

Jennigje Grendelman

In the preparation of .alpha.-cyano esters from an acid halide and an aromatic aldehyde in the presence of water, a water-soluble cyanide, a substantially water-immiscible aprotic solvent and optionally a phase transfer catalyst, a stalled reaction is restarted by addition of an alkaline compound capable of generating cyanide ions.

Preparation of .alpha.-cyano esters

Esters of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group and Ar is an optionally substituted aromatic group are prepared from the corresponding aromatic aldehyde, the corresponding hydrocarbyl acid anhydride in the presence of water, and a water-soluble cyanide.

Preparation of esters

Manufacture of 2-hydrocarbylglycerols by contacting a 2-haloalkanal with a secondary carbon atom in the 2-position, with formaldehyde in the presence of an aqueous solution containing an alkaline-reacting compound at a concentration of at least 0.5 gram-equivalent per liter of water.

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Amsterdam, Netherlands

Arend Reinink