PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF CARBOXYLIC ACIDS AND ESTERS

PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF CARBOXYLIC ACIDS AND ESTERS The invention relates to the preparation of carboxylic acids and alkyl esters of the general Formula I (I) (wherein R1 and R2 are identical and stand for lower alkyl; R3 and R4 are identical and stand for hydrogen or lower alkyl and R5 represents hydrogen or lower alkyl) by subjecting a compound of the general Formula II (II) to ammonolysis with aqueous ammonium hydroxide in the presence of a strong inorganic base and a cupric(II)compound and, if desired, N-dialkylating the 4-amino-compound of the general Formula III (III) thus obtained. The advantage of the process resides in the fact that inexpensive, readily available starting materials can be used and the process can be performed economically on industrial scale too. The compounds of the general Formula I are known pharmaceutical intermediates.