Patent ID: 7531683

Claim:
A continuous process for the cyanation of hydrogenated β-ketoesters having the formula (2): wherein X, R and R 1 are independently selected from hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, aralkyl or alkaryl groups or optionally substituted cycloalkyl groups and wherein X may alternatively be selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, mesylates, tosylates, sulphonate esters, tetralkyl ammonium and other suitable leaving groups; and n is from 1 to 4, the process comprising: (a) providing a cyanation zone; (b) maintaining the cyanation zone at a temperature of from 20° C. to 200° C. and at a pressure of from 500 mbar to 500 bar, effective for cyanation of a hydrogenated β-ketoester of formula (2); (c) continuously supplying to the cyanation zone a substrate comprising a hydrogenated β-ketoester of formula (2); (d) continuously supplying to the cyanation zone a cyanide; (e) contacting the substrate with the cyanide in the cyanation zone for a residence time of less than 8 minutes effective for at least partial cyanation of the hydrogenated β-ketoester; and (f) continuously extracting from the cyanation zone a product stream comprising a cyanated β-ketoester.