This invention is related to the preparation of alkyl or alcoxyalkyl-&agr;-cyanoacrylates in monomeric form by depolymerisation of the corresponding poly(alkyl-&agr;-cyanoacrylates) or poly(alcoxyalkyl-&agr;-cyanoacrylates) (PCA). The PCA's are obtained preferably by base-catalyzed condensation of a cyanoacetate with formaldehyde (or a polymer of the latter).
