Process for the production of

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUTION OF AN ISONITRONE WHICH COMPRISES THE ADDITION OF A PRIMARY AMINE TO A SOLUTION OF AN ALDEHYDE MONOPERACYLATE IN AN ALDEHYDE MAINTAINED AT A TEMPERATURE BELOW ABOUT 50*C., THE SAID SOLUTION OF THE ALDEHYDE MONOPERACYLATE IN THE ALDEHYDE HAVING BEEN PREPARED BY CHARGING OXYGEN THROUGH THE SAID ALDEHYDE AT A TEMPERATURE NTO HIGHER THAN ABOUT 0*C., IN SUCH PROPORTIONS THAT THE AMOUNT OF PRIMARY AMINE THAT IS ADDED IS NOT MORE THAN THAT STOICHIOMETRICALLY EQUIVALENT TO THE ALDEHYDE PERACYLATE THAT IS PRESENT IN THE SOLUTION, THEREBY AVOIDING THE FORMATION IN THE REACTION MIXTURE OF QUANTITIES OF THE SCHIFF''S BASE IN EXCESS OF THAT QUANTITY THAT IS CONVERTIBLE BY THE ALDEHYDE PERACYLATE TO THE ISONITRONE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY DISTILLING OFF THE EXCESS ALDEHYDE FROM THE REACTION MIXTURE AT A SUBATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE, AND RECOVERING THE RESULTING ISONITRONE.