IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF METHYL OR ETHYL ESTERS OF A CORBOXYLIC ACID FROM ACRYLONITRILE OR ALKYL CYANIDES ARYLCYANIDES OR ARYLALKYL CYANIDES

摘要

A process for the manufacture of methyl or ethyl ester of a carboxylic acid from acrylonitrile or alkylcyanides, arylcyanides or arylalkylcyanides, comprising the steps of:(i) mixing acrylonitrile or the selected cyanide with an alcohol such as methanol or ethanol depending upon, the methyl or ethyl ester to be prepared, a strong cation exchange resin in its hydrogen form and an organic polymerization inhibitor chosen from the group hydroquinone, phonothiazine, di-naphthol, methylene blue and butylate-----hydroxy toluences:(ii) heating them together at 95-115&degree;C; and(iii) filtering the liquid and isolating the desired ester by fractional distillation.