Preparation of 2-pyrrolidone
AssigneePhillips Petroleum Company
InventorMichael S. Matson
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Abstract
Process is disclosed for the one reaction step preparation of 2-pyrrolidone by contacting with hydrogen, ammonia, at least one diluent and a catalyst consisting essentially of palladium on alumina; wherein the molar ratio of ammonia to succinic acid on succinic anhydride is about 1:1 to about 10:1.
Claims9
A process for the preparation of 2-pyrrolidone in which succinic acid or succinic anhydride is contacted with ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of at least one diluent, wherein the improvements comprise the use of a palladium on alumina catalyst and the use of a molar ratio of said ammonia to said succinic acid or succinic anhydride in the range of about 1:1 to 10:1.
A process in accordance with claim 11 wherein said diluent is selected from the group consisting of:
- water;
- ethers having the formulae:
- ##STR2## wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl and alkaryl radicals, having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, each R' is independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl and alkaryl radicals having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and z =3 through 11, inclusive;
- and 2-pyrrolidone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.