Abstract:
A process for the preparation of caprolactam is provided, wherein a) a mixture (I) containing 6-aminocapronitrile and water is reacted in the gas phase, in the presence of a catalyst, to give a mixture (II) containing caprolactam, ammonia, water, high-boiling components and low-boiling components, b) ammonia is then removed from the mixture (II) to give a mixture (III) containing caprolactam, water, high-boiling components and low-boiling components, c) water is then removed from the mixture (III) to give a mixture (IV) containing caprolactam, high-boiling components and low-boiling components, and d) a solid (V) containing caprolactam is then obtained from the mixture (IV) by crystallization, the proportion by weight of caprolactam in the solid (V) being greater than in the mixture (IV).
Abstract:
A process for the preparation of null-caprolactam starting from 6-aminocaproic acid, 6-aminocaproamide, 6-aminocaproic ester, 6-aminocapronitrile, oligomers or polymers of these compounds or mixtures comprising at least two of these compounds, which process is performed in the presence of N-(5-carboxypentyl)-null-caprolactam and/or derivative thereof in an amount of less than 50 wt. % and more than 0.1 wt. % (based on the total reaction mixture).
Abstract:
Process for preparing an aqueous mixture of &egr;-caprolactam and 6-aminocaproic acid and/or 6-aminocaproamide which involves, as the reductive amination step, contacting 5-formylvaleric acid and/or an alkyl 5-formylvalerate in water as solvent with hydrogen and an excess of ammonia in the presence of a ruthenium on carrier, as a catalyst, wherein the carrier is titanium oxide, zirconium oxide, graphite or carbon and the catalyst also contains at least one of the metals of group 8-11, or a compound of these metals. The aqueous mixture can be used to prepare &egr;-caprolactam.
Abstract:
The present invention is related to a method for preparing lactam represented by the following formula: 1 wherein R is C2-10 alkylene which may be optionally substituted with C1-6 alkyl or phenyl; Rnull is a hydrogen atom, C1-6, alkyl, C1-6 hydroxyalkyl or phenyl. The method for preparing lactam comprises an amination reaction using crystalline aluminosilicate zeolites as catalysts under the condition of gas phase in the presence of (a) lactone, (b) amine and/or ammonia and (c) water.
Abstract:
A process for making 6-aminocaproic acid by hydroformylating 3-pentenenitrile to produce 3-, 4-, and 5-formylvaleronitrile (FVN mixture), oxidizing the FVN mixture to produce 3-, 4-, and 5-cyanovaleric acid; hydrogenating the resulting product to produce 6-aminocaproic acid, 5-amino-4-methylvaleric acid, and 4-amino-3-ethylbutyric acid; and isolating 6-aminocaproic acid from the reaction product. The resulting 6-aminocaproic acid can be cyclized to produce caprolactam.
Abstract:
Process to prepare &egr;-caprolactam starting from a starting mixture containing a 6-aminocaproate ester, in which in a first step (1) the 6-aminocaproate ester is converted into 6-aminocaproic acid and 6-aminocaproamide by reaction with water in the presence of ammonia at a temperature of between 50 and 250° C., with a separate or simultaneous removal of alcohol(s), and in a subsequent step (2) the 6-aminocaproic acid and 6-aminocaproamide are cyclizised at an elevated temperature, wherein in step (1) the 6-aminocaproate ester is converted into 6-aminocaproic acid and 6-aminocaproamide in the presence of an amount higher than 2 wt. % and less than or equal to 25 wt. % NH3 (relative to the total amount of organic compounds, water and ammonia present in step (1)).
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for the purification of crude &egr;-caprolactam, wherein crude &egr;-caprolactam prepared by cyclization of alkyl 6-aminocaproate, 6-aminocapronitrile, 6-aminocaproic acid, 6-aminocaproic amide and/or oligomers thereof, is subjected to a crystallization process.
Abstract:
This invention relates in part to processes for producing one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactams, e.g., epsilon caprolactam, which comprise (a) converting one or more substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyaldehydes, e.g., 6-hydroxyhexanal, optionally in the presence of a catalyst or a catalyst and promoter, to one or more substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyamides, e.g. 6-hydroxycaproamide, and/or one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactam precursors, e.g., 6-aminocaproamide, epsilon caprolactone, epsilon caprolactone oligomers and esters of 6-hydroxycaproic acid and mixtures thereof, and (b) converting said one or more substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyamides and/or said one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactam precursors, optionally in the presence of a catalyst or a catalyst and promoter, to said one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactams; wherein the amount of byproducts resulting from reduction and/or reductive amination of said one or more substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyaldehydes, e.g., 1,6-hexanediol, aminohexanol, and the like, is no greater than about 10 weight percent, preferably no greater than about 5 weight percent, and more preferably no greater than about 1 weight percent, of the total of said one or more substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyamides and/or one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactam precursors. This invention also relates in part to reaction mixtures containing one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactams as principal product(s) of reaction.
Abstract:
The present invention includes a process for the preparation of a lactam by vapor phase reaction of an aliphatic aminonitrile with water in the presence of a solid catalyst, wherein the catalyst is an alumina having a specific surface, measured by the BET method, greater than or equal to 10 m2/g. The alumina catalyst is further characterized by either: (a) a specific surface less than or equal to 280 m2/g, and a volume of pores with a diameter greater than 500 Å which is greater than or equal to 10 ml/100 g; or (b) a specific surface greater than or equal to 50 m2/g and less than or equal to 280 m2/g, and a volume of pores with a diameter greater than 70 Å which is greater than or equal to 30 m2/g.
Abstract:
An ether is oxidized with oxygen under an oxidation catalyst comprising an imide compound (such as N-hydroxyphthalimide) or the imide compound and a co-catalyst to produce the corresponding chain or cyclic ester or anhydride. The co-catalyst may be a transition metal compound. The above process provides a process for oxidizing an ether by oxygen efficiently to produce the corresponding oxide (such as an ester, an hydride) with high conversion and selectivity.