Preparation of 2-amino-n-butanol
AssigneeSociete Chimique de la Grande Paroisse, Azote et Produits Chimiques
InventorsGuy Adrian, Marcel-Xavier Sion, Andre Benattar
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Abstract
2-Amino-n-butanol is prepared by condensing 1-nitropropane with formaldehyde in an aqueous medium in the presence of a phase transfer agent which acts both as a basic catalyst and as a surfactant, and the resulting 2-nitro-n-butanol obtained is subjected to catalytic hydrogenation using a hydrogenating mixture consisting of hydrogen and nitrogen at a pressure of 8 to 12 bars.
Claims11
In a process for the production of 2-amino-n-butanol by the formylation of 1-nitropropane and reductive hydrogenation of the resulting 2-nitro-n-butanol, the improvement comprising the steps of:
- contacting 1-nitropropane with formaldehyde, in a molar ratio within the range of 1.1:1.0 to 1.0:1.0, in a stirred aqueous medium which is free from organic solvents and in the presence of a minor proportion of a basic agent which acts both as a catalyst for the formylation reaction and as a surfactant, said basic agent being selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium hydroxides and tertiary amines;
- allowing the stirred reaction medium to settle;
- separating the lower phase comprising 2-nitro-n-butanol free from 2-nitro-2-ethylpropane;
- and
- reductively hydrogenating the separated 2-nitro-n-butanol.
In a process for the production of 2-amino-n-butanol by the formylation of 1-nitropropane and reductive hydrogenation of the resulting 2-nitro-n-butanol, the improvement comprising the steps of:
- contacting 1-nitropropane with formaldehyde in a molar ratio within the range of 1.1:1.0 to 1.0:1.0 in a stirred aqueous medium which is free from organic solvents and in the presence of a minor proportion of a basic agent which acts both as a catalyst for the formylation reaction and as a surfactant, said basic agent being selected from the group consisting of quarternary ammonium hydroxides and tertiary amines;
- allowing the stirred reaction mixture to settle when the reaction is substantially complete;
- separating the lower phase comprising 2-nitro-n-butanol;
- free from 2-nitro-2-ethylpropane-1,3-dial;
- dissolving the separated phase in from once to twice the volume of methanol;
- and
- reductively hydrogenating the nitrobutanol under 8 to 12 bars with a gaseous mixture comprising 85% hydrogen and 15% nitrogen in the presence of a metallic hydrogenation catalyst selected from the group consisting of Raney nickel and palladium and platinum supported on a carbon base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.