Preparation of muconic acid mononitriles and copper(II)-ammonia reagent therefor

Abstract

Substituted and unsubstituted phenols, catechols and orthobenzoquinones are converted to muconic acid mononitriles by reaction with copper(II)-ammonia reagents. The copper(II)-ammonia reagents can be prepared by the reaction of cuprous chloride with oxygen or air in liquid ammonia or in ammonium hydroxide or in pyridine followed by addition of ammonia or ammonium hydroxide. The muconic acid mononitriles are useful as monomers or comonomers and as intermediates in the manufacture of substituted and unsubstituted 6-aminocaproic acids, caprolactams and polyamides.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.