PRODUCTION OF ALPHA-HYDROXYCARBOXYLIC ESTER

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing the subject compound, which has overcome drawbacks involved in conventional techniques. SOLUTION: This method comprises the following consecutive steps: step 1: a cyanhydrin is produced from hydrocyanic acid and the corresponding carbonyl compound, step 2: the cyanhydrin is hydrated to form the corresponding α-hydroxycarboxylic acid amide, step 3: the α-hydroxycarboxylic acid amide is reacted with an alcohol to form the corresponding α-hydroxycarboxylic ester and ammonia, and step 4: hydrocyanic acid is produced using the ammonia formed in the step 3, and used as a raw material for the step 1.