Process for making esters of 2-acetoxyalkanoic acids using an α-hydroxyalkanoic acid ester and an acetate ester as starting materials

A process for making a 2-acetoxyalkanoic acid ester comprising heating a mixture of an α-hydroxyalkanoic acid ester and at least one mole of an alkyl acetate ester per mole of the α-hydroxyalkanoic acid ester in a reaction vessel to a temperature of at least 150° C. under superatmospheric pressure in the presence of a transesterification catalyst to convert at least a portion of the α-hydroxyalkanoic acid ester and alkyl acetate ester to a 2-acetoxyalkanoic acid ester and at least one alkanol or phenolic compound, wherein a water content in the reaction vessel during the reaction is maintained at below 0.15% by weight, the process being characterized by a selectivity of at least 80% to the 2-acetoxyalkanonic acid ester and a yield of 2-acetoxyalkanoic acid ester is 50 to 75%, based on the starting amount of the α-hydroxyalkanoic acid ester.