Manufacture of pyridine and methylpyridines

#This invention relates to the manufacture of pyridine and methylpyridines.

#According to the present invention there is provided a process for the manufacture of pyridine and/or methylpyridines which comprises the catalytic vapour-phase reaction of 1,3-butadiene and methylamine.

#Suitable catalysts for use in the process of the present invention include those known as catalysts for the vapour-phase reaction between formaldehyde acetaldehyde and ammonia, for example the dehydration and/or cracking catalysts described in the specification of UK Pat. No. 1,070,664.

#The invention is illustrated by the following Example.

#A gaseous mixture consisting of 1,3 butadiene (1.0 part by volume), methylamine (2.2 parts by volume), air (16.8 parts by volumes), steam (21.9 parts by volume) and nitrogen (12.6 parts by volume) was passed through a fluidised bed of silica - alumina catalyst, commercially available as "Synclyst" (Trade Mark) -- grade 3A MS/13/HD, maintained at 350.degree. C. The contact time was 5 seconds.

#The gases from the reaction zone were cooled to give a liquid product containing pyridine bases. The uncondensed gases were scrubbed with water to recover a further quantity of pyridine bases. The yield of pyridine (based on gram atoms of carbon fed) was 8.0% and the yield of 3-methylpyridine (on the same basis) was 0.4%.