Process for preparation of .beta.-hydroxy esters by reaction of organic carboxylic acids and vicinal epoxides

In the process of preparing a .beta.-hydroxyester comprising reacting by contacting an organic carboxylic acid and a vicinal epoxide at a temperature between about 60.degree. C and 130.degree. C, the improvement comprising conducting said process in the presence of a catalytic amount of a catalytic composition comprising:

• (a) a first catalytic compound having at least one amino or ammonium nitrogen atom and selected from the group consisting of ammonia, ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, alkylamine, dialkylamine, trialkylamine, trialkanolamine, dialkylarylamine, diarylalkylamine, triarylamine, triaralkylamine, trialkarylamine, dialkylaralkylamine, dialkylalkarylamine, 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic aliphatics which include amino nitrogen within the ring, pyridine, a cross-linked ion-exchange resin bearing a plurality of tertiary amine or quaternary ammonium sites, and tetraalkyl ammonium halides, in combination with (b) a second catalytic compound, which is soluble in each of said acid and epoxide reactants, having an ionizable atom of iron or chromium and is selected from the group consisting of iron halides, chromium halides, ferric alkanoate of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, ferric sulfate, ferric nitrate, ferric alkoxides, and ferric acrylate or methacrylate;
• the mole ratio of (a) to (b) being from 1:10 to 10:1.