Joint preparation of 3-dialkylaminopropionitriles, bis-(2-cyanoethyl) ether and, if desired, ethylene-cyanohydrin

Abstract

3-Dialkylaminopropionitriles ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl which may furthermore be bonded to form a 5-membered or 6-membered ring, bis-(2-cyanoethyl) ether II NC--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CN II and, if desired, ethylenecyanohydrin III HO--CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --CN III are prepared jointly by a process in which (a) acrylonitrile and water are reacted in the presence of a base at from 60.degree. to 150.degree. C. to give a mixture of acrylonitrile, water and bis-(2-cyanoethyl) ether II, the base being a mineral base, a quaternary nitrogen base or a mixture of these, (b) this mixture is reacted at about 0.degree.-50.degree. C. with a dialkylamine of the general formula IV ##STR2## to give a mixture of water, a dialkylaminopropionitrile I and bis-(2-cyanoethyl) ether II, and this mixture is separated into its components and (c) if desired, the ether II obtained in proces stage (b) or an aqueous solution of this ether and/or the reacted mixtures containing this ether and obtained from process stage (a) or (b) is allowed to react at from 50.degree. to 150.degree. C. with the dialkylamine IV to give a mixture of a 3-dialkylaminopropionitrile I and ethylenecyanohydrin III, and, if desired, the said mixture is separated into its components.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.