Process for synthesizing o-substituted oxime compounds and conversion to

Abstract

A process for synthesizing O-substituted oxime compounds, which includes (a) reacting an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxide compound and a solution of an oxime compound to form a first mixture including the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of the oxime compound and water; and (b) adding an organohalide compound while stirring to the first mixture to form a second mixture including an O-substituted oxime compound, the alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt of the oxime compound, water, unreacted organohalide compound and excess oxime compound. The second mixture is heated in the presence of an amount of water sufficient to react hydroxide with the unreacted organohalide compound to obtain an O-substituted oxime compound substantially free of unreacted organohalide compound. In a further embodiment, the O-substituted oxime compound can be hydrolyzed to the corresponding O-substituted hydroxylamine. The process is especially useful in the conversion of O-substituted oxime compounds to the corresponding aminooxy-compound.