Calcium Pantothenate. Part 1. (R,S)-Pantolactone Technology Improvement at the Tonnage Scale

The synthesis of (R,S)-pantolactone at the laboratory and industrial scales has been investigated. Major side products were separated and identified, leading to a thorough understanding of the nature of the reactions occurring. The technology was thereby improved at many stages, resulting in an increased yield, a decrease of the process duration, and reductions of the raw-material and energy consumptions as well as the waste emission. Some of the elaborated solutions have already been implemented in production.