Chemical process for opening ring compounds

An aminolysis process for the opening of a lactone or lactam ring, comprising the treatment of a compound containing said lactone or lactam ring with a primary or secondary amine in the presence of:

• a catalyst and optionally of a cocatalyst, in an aprotic apolar solvent selected from the group consisting of C5-C10 linear or branched alkanes, C5-C10 cycloalkanes, C5-C10 branched cycloalkanes, and C5-C10 dialkyl linear or branched ethers in which the lactone or the lactam ring-containing compound is soluble and the amide produced in the reaction is insoluble in the reaction conditions,
• wherein said primary or secondary amine has a general formula RR10NH, in which R and R10 are, independently from each other, hydrogen or a group selected among a linear or branched C1-C6 alkyl, a linear or branched C1-C6 alkyl substituted with at least a substituent selected among a cyano group, a free carboxylic group, an ester, an amide, an aldehyde or an acetal, or an aryl (C1-C6) alkyl, with the condition that R and R10 cannot be both hydrogen, and the amount of said amine is not higher than 3.5 equivalents compared to the molar quantity of the lactone or lactam ring-containing compound.