Patent ID: 6420593
Filing Date: 2002-07-16
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
A process for preparing compounds of the formula IX: whereinR is C6-C30-alkyl or C6-C30-alkenyl, which may additionally have up to 5 hydroxyl groups, formyl groups, C1-C4-alkoxy groups, phenoxy groups or C1-C4-alkoxycarbonyl groups as substituents and may be interrupted by up to 5 nonadjacent oxygen atoms, or alkoxylate groups of the formula â€”(CH2)kâ€”Oâ€”(A1O)mâ€”(A2O)nâ€”Y, where A1 and A2 are, independently of one another, 1,2-alkylene groups having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, Y is hydrogen, C1-C12-alkyl, phenyl or C1-C4-alkoxycarbonyl, and k is 1, 2 or 3, and m and n are each numbers from 0 to 50, and the total of m+n must be at least 4, and M is hydrogen, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium in the appropriately stoichiometric amounts, comprising: reacting a compound of the formula IV: with formaldehyde and HCN or alkali metal cyanide and then with an alkali metal hydroxide solution and, optionally with solutions whichcontain ions of M, wherein the reactions are carried out under a pressure in the range from 1 to 40 bar.