PURPOSE: To obtain the title compound useful as a raw material for surfactants in high yield and purity under mild conditions, by hydrating and cyanoethylating acrylonitrile with a specific amount of water in the presence of a specified catalyst, then adding a strong basic catalyst and thermally decomposing the resultant product.
CONSTITUTION: Acrylonitrile is hydrated and cyanoethylated with water in a molar amount within the range of 1.1W3 times, preferably 1.2W2 times based on the acrylonitrile in the presence of a strong basic ion exchange resin (e.g., Lewatit M-500(R) of Amberlite IRA-400(R)) to provide a reaction solution. A strong basic catalyst (e.g., lithium hydroxide, NaOH or KOH, etc.) is added to the acrylonitrile phase thereof and thermal decomposition is then carried out to afford the aimed ethylene cyanohydrin.
MIYAMA KANEMITSU
ITOI AKIRA
YAMAUCHI ATSURO
