Process for producing cyclic compounds

A method of processing an initial compound having a formula (A)

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• wherein R1 comprises a saturated or unsaturated, branched or un-branched group containing from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and wherein Z and X independently comprise one or more of C, H, O, N, S, a halide, and a counter-ion, the method comprising:
• converting the initial compound to a cyclic compound having a formula
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• the converting comprising one or both of thermal and catalytic processing, the cyclic compound being present in a mixture comprising one or more additional components;
• and
• performing a purification to remove at least some of the one or more additional components.

A method of making an N-alkyl product comprising:

• providing an initial solution into a reactor, the solution comprising ammonia and an initial compound having formula (A);
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• where R1 is selected from the group consisting of branched and un-branched hydrocarbons that are either saturated or unsaturated having from 1 to 10 carbons, the initial solution having a first ratio of ammonia to the initial compound;
• adjusting the amount of ammonia to produce a solution having a second ratio of ammonia to initial compound of from about to 1:1 to about 1.5:1;
• adding an alkylating agent to the reactor;
• and
• cyclizing and alkylating the initial compound to produce an N-alkyl product having a formula (B)
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• where R2 is selected from linear, cyclic, branched, un-branched, saturated, unsaturated, aromatic, and substituted alkyl groups, and combinations thereof.

A method of producing a pyrrolidinone comprising:

• providing an initial solution into a first reactor, the solution comprising ammonia and comprising an initial compound having formula (A);
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• where R1 is selected from the group consisting of branched and un-branched hydrocarbons having from 1 to 10 carbons, the initial solution having a first ratio of ammonia to the initial compound;
• adjusting the ratio of ammonia to produce a solution having a second ratio of ammonia relative to the initial compound of from 1:1 to 1.5:1;
• alkylating and cyclizing the initial compound to form a compound having the formula (B)
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• performing a purification step to produce a purified form of compound (B);
• providing the purified form of compound (B) to a second reactor;
• and
• in the presence of a catalyst, hydrogenating the purified compound (B) to produce a pyrrolidinone compound having formula (C)
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• where R2 comprises an alkyl, a substituted alkyl group, or an aromatic group.

A method of producing a pyrrolidinone comprising:

• providing an initial solution into a first reactor, the solution comprising ammonia and comprising an initial compound having formula (A);
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• where R1 is selected from the group consisting of branched and un-branched hydrocarbons having from 1 to 10 carbons, the initial solution having a first ratio of ammonia to the initial compound;
• adjusting the ratio of ammonia to produce a solution having a second ratio of ammonia relative to the initial compound of from 1:1 to 1.5:1;
• cyclizing the initial compound to form a compound having the formula (B)
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• performing a purification step to produce a purified form of compound (B);
• providing the purified form of compound (B) to a second reactor;
• and
• in the presence of a catalyst, hydrogenating the purified compound (B) to produce a pyrrolidinone compound having formula (C)
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A method of making N-methyl pyrrolidinone comprising:

• forming an aqueous mixture comprising ammonia and succinate;
• introducing the mixture into a vessel;
• adjusting the amount of ammonia in the mixture to provide a ratio of ammonia to succinate of less than 2 to 1;
• providing a methylating agent into the vessel;
• reacting the methylating agent with the succinate at a temperature of from greater than about 100° C. to about 400° C., the reacting producing N-methyl succinimide;
• at least partially purifying the N-methyl succinimide;
• after the at least partially purifying, hydrogenating the N-methyl succinimide to form a product mixture comprising N-methyl pyrrolidinone.