Promoter synergism in pentenenitrile hydrocyanation
AssigneeE. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorsRonald J. McKinney, Robert B. Osborne
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Abstract
Process for producing adiponitrile by the zerovalent nickel catalyzed hydrocyanation of pentenenitriles is improved by using a synergistic combination of promoters selected in accordance with the reaction kinetics of the synthesis.
Claims6
In a process for producing adiponitrile by the addition of hydrogen cyanide to pentenenitriles in the presence of a zerovalent nickel catalyst and catalyst promoter, the improvement comprising conducting the process in the presence of a combination of two Lewis acid promoters, LA.sub.A and LA.sub.B, wherein the rate constant for the rate of isomerization of 3-pentenenitrile to 4-pentenenitrile, k.sub.1, in the presence of the first Lewis acid promoter, LA.sub.A is greater than k.sub.1 in the presence of the second Lewis acid promoter, LA.sub.B, and wherein the rate constant for the rate of hydrocyanation of 4-pentenenitrile to adiponitrile, k.sub.2, in the presence of LA.sub.B is greater than k.sub.2 in the presence of LA.sub.A.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.