ISSN 1017-2548(Print)
ISSN 2234-8530(Online)
Volume 22, Number 5
JKCSEZ 22(5)
October 20, 1978 

The hydrolysis of α-bromophenylacetamide in the acidic media has been studied. The reactions in sulfuric acid and p-toluenesulfonic acid afforded mainly mandelic acid ; on the other hand, in hydrochloric acid α-chlorophenylacetic acid was the main product. In either case, it was difficult to obtain α-bromophenylacetic acid without concomittant formation of mandelic acid and α-chlorophenylacetic acid respectively from the hydrolysis of α-bromophenylacetamide. Mandelic acid and α-chlorophenylacetic acid were obtained in good yields (86, 95 %) in sulfuric and hydrochloric acid respectively; the reactions are therefore potentially useful processes for obtaining them.