Abstract:
A process for producing lactam by Beckmann rearrangement of cycloalkanone oxime. A cycloalkanone oxime is contacted at an elevated temperature, with sulfate or phosphate of metal ions selected from manganese, ferrous, ferric, cobalt, nickel, zinc and cadmium in the presence of at least one mole of hydrogen chloride per mole of the cycloalkanone oxime. Lactam can be recovered from the reaction mixture without producing ammonium sulfate as a by-product.