Shell Oil Comapny

Margaretha J De Nie-Sarink

Ronald F Mason

Frank Baardman

Robert Van Helden

The invention provides a process for preparing azetidine-3-carboxylic acid or salts thereof; useful as chemical hybridizing agents, which comprises treating a compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a group of formula R.sup.1 R.sup.2 CH-- wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl or optionally substituted phenyl moieties, with nitric acid and subjecting the resulting initial product to acid conditions to produce an acid-addition salt of azetidine-3-carboxylic acid, and thereafter, if desired, converting the acid-addition salt to the free acid or another salt of the acid, 1-nitrosoazetidine-3,3-dicarboxylic acid, 1-nitrosoazetidine-3-carboxylic acid and salts thereof being intermediates in the process.

Process for preparing azetidine derivatives and intermediates thereof

An aniline is alkylated on the ring by treating it with an alkylating agent, preferably an alkyl chloride, in the liquid phase, and in the presence of at least 1.02 mole of an aluminum halide per mole of the aniline.

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Amsterdam, Netherlands

Margaretha J De Nie-Sarink