Preparation of carboxylic and hydroxamic acids from internal nitroketones

A method of preparing a carboxylic acid a hydroxamic acid which comprises contacting an ammonium, Group IA or Group IIA metal salt of an internal nitroketone corresponding to the formula:

• ##STR5## where R and R.sup.1 are alkyl groups having from 1 to 25 carbon atoms, where Me is NH.sub.4, a Group IA metal or a Group IIA metal and where n is 1 or 2, with an acidic mineral acid salt, wherein said acidic salt is ammonium chloride, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium hydrogen sulfate, ammonium phosphate, aluminum nitrate, aluminum sulfate, ferric chloride, cupric nitrate, zinc sulfate or calcium nitrate in the presence of a carboxylic acid solvent under substantially anhydrous conditions at a temperature of about 60 to 200.degree. C. wherein the mole ratio of said nitroketone salt to said acidic salt is from about 1:0.01 to 1:2.