Werkwijze voor het bereiden van di-n-propylazijnzuur

Di-n-propyl acetic acid is obtained in higher yields by hydrolysing di-n-propyl acetonitrile with concentrated sulphuric acid at an elevated temperature to form di-n-propyl acetamide and then reducing the concentration of the sulphuric acid in the reaction mixture and refluxing it at a generally higher temperature to convert the acetamide into di-n-propyl acetic acid. Recovery of the acid product is advantageously effected by the passage of a steam jet through the reaction mixture, since this enables a purer product to be obtained, in particular a product containing a smaller quantity of valeric acid as impurity.