Preparation from hydroxylammonium sulfate of oximes and hydroxamic acids via alcoholic hydroxylamine solution

A process comprising the steps of:

• (a) reacting an alcoholic solution of a base selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide and the corresponding alkoxides of 1-5 carbons with solid hydroxylammonium sulfate, employing an alcohol of 1-3 carbons, a substantial absence of added water, a temperature not greater than about 30.degree. C., a pressure and a time;
• said alcohol, temperature, pressure and time being sufficient to produce a liquid phase having at least 50% of the hydroxylamine values of the hydroxylammonium sulfate,
• (b) reacting the hydroxylamine values in the liquid phase with an organic reagent selected from the group consisting of aldehydes, ketones, acid chlorides and esters to form the corresponding product selected from the group consisting of aldoximes, ketoximes, and hydroxamic acids,
• (c) separating the solid phase comprising a sulfate salt corresponding to said base from the liquid phase containing hydroxylamine values or containing said corresponding product, and
• (d) recovering from the liquid phase said product substantially free of water and sulfate impurities.