Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for the cyclizing hydrolysis of an aminonitrile compound into a lactam in the presence of a catalyst. The invention relates more particularly to a process for the cyclizing hydrolysis of an aminonitrile compound in the presence of a macroporous particulate catalyst obtained by deposition/impregnation of an oxygenated compound onto a macroporous support such as alumina. The invention applies in particular to the preparation of &egr;-caprolactam by cyclizing hydrolysis of aminocapronitrile.
Abstract:
A cyclic lactam and a cyclic amine are coproduced by coreacting an aliphatic alpha, omega-diamine and an aliphatic alpha, omega-aminonitrile with water in the gas phase in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst.
Abstract:
Process for the preparation of &egr;-caprolactam, in which in a step (a) a compound with the general formula: O=CH—(CH2)4—C(O)—R (1) in which R is —OH, —NH2 or O—R′, in which R′ is an organic group with 1 to 10 carbon atoms, is contacted with ammonia and hydrogen in a suitable solvent at elevated pressure in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to a mixture of primary amino compounds and &egr;-caprolactam, followed by a separate second step (b) in which the primary amino compounds are reacted to &egr;-caprolactam, wherein the solvent in step (a) is an aqueous medium, including water, the yield to &egr;-caprolactam in step (a) is more than 10%, calculated on the initial molar amount of the compound according to formula (1), that &egr;-caprolactam is separated from the aqueous mixture obtained in step (a) by extraction and that the aqueous mixture resulting from the extraction, containing the primary amino compounds, is used in step (b).
Abstract:
The disclosure is a process for preparing cyclic lactams of the formula I: where R1 is hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl, and A is C3-C12-alkylene unsubstituted or substituted by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 substituents selected independently of one another from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl and aryl, by conversion of an &ohgr;-aminocarbonitrile of the formula II: HR1N—A—CN (II) where R1 and A are each as defined above, in the presence of at least one catalyst, which comprises converting said nitrile II into an oligomer mixture, and treating with superheated steam.
Abstract:
Process to separate &egr;-caprolactam from 6-aminocaproamide and 6-aminocaproamide oligomers, wherein &egr;-caprolactam, 6-aminocaproamide and 6 aminocaproamide oligomers are present in a first aqueous starting mixture, which mixture is contacted with an alcohol extraction solvent, resulting in a first aqueous raffinate phase which is poor in &egr;-caprolactam and an alcohol phase which is rich in &egr;-caprolactam and which alcohol phase contains 6-aminocaproamide and/or 6-aminocaproamide oligomers, wherein the latter alcohol phase is subsequently contacted with water (backwash water) resulting in an alcohol extract phase poor in 6-aminocaproamide and/or 6-aminocaproamide oligomers and a second aqueous raffinate phase rich in 6-aminocaproamide and/or 6-aminocaproamide oligomers.
Abstract:
The present invention concerns the aminomethylation of pentenoic acid derivatives, by reaction with carbon monoxide, hydrogen and ammonia, for preparing caprolactam. More precisely, it is directed to a method for preparing caprolactam wherein the aminomethylation of pentenoic acid derivatives is carried out by reaction with carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and ammonia, at a temperature higher than 30° C. and in the presence of a catalyst with a base of at least one metal of Group VIII of the Periodic Table.
Abstract:
Process to prepare &egr;-caprolactam by treating 6-aminocaproic acid, 6-aminocaproate ester or 6-aminocaproamide or mixtures comprising at least two of these compounds in the presence of superheated steam in which a gaseous mixture comprising &egr;-caprolactam and steam is obtained, wherein the process is carried out in the absence of a catalyst at a temperature between 250 and 400° C. and at a pressure of between 0.5 and 2 MPa. The invention also encompasses a process to prepare &egr;-caprolactam starting from 6-aminocapronitrile by performing a hydrolysis and a subsequent step as described above.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to processes for the production of .alpha.-aryl-.beta.-ketonitriles, which serve as synthetic intermediates in the preparation of a series of biologically important molecules such as corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) receptor antagonists.
Abstract:
A method for purifying lactams by liquid-liquid extraction and/or processing with an ion exchange resin is disclosed. The method is useful for purifying lactams produced by the cyclising vapour-phase hydrolysis of an aliphatic aminonitrile, and comprises removing the major part of the ammonia before subjecting the lactam to liquid-liquid extraction by means of a solvent including an acidic solvent and/or contacting said lactam with a cation exchange resin. In most applications of the lactam, it is preferable to carry out a hydrogenation step on the compounds of the lactam solution comprising unsaturations, prior to or in addition to the liquid-liquid extraction step and/or the acidic resin contact step. The purification method may also include an oxidation step in addition to or instead of the hydrogenation step. Said method is preferably combined with a distillation step in the presence of a base.