Processes and catalyst compositions for hydrocyanation of monoolefins
AssigneeE. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorsWilson Tam, Kristina Ann Kreutzer, Ronald James McKinney
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Abstract
Processes for hydrocyanation of nonconjugated acyclic aliphatic monoolefins, monoolefins conjugated to an ester group, or monoolefins conjugated to a nitrile group which utilize a catalyst precursor composition comprising a bidentate phosphite ligand and zero-valent nickel preferably in the presence of a Lewis acid prompter. Catalyst precursor compositions are also disclosed.
Claims18
A process for hydrocyanation, comprising reacting a nonconjugated acyclic aliphatic monoolefin, monoolefin conjugated to an ester group or monoolefin conjugated to a nitrile group with a source of HCN in the presence of a catalyst precursor composition comprising zero-valent nickel and a bidentate phosphite ligand of Formula I, ##STR25## wherein each R.sup.1 is independently a tertiary substituted hydrocarbon of up to 12 carbon atoms, or OR.sup.4 wherein R.sup.4 is C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 alkyl;
- each R.sup.5 is independently a tertiary substituted hydrocarbon of up to 12 carbon atoms;
- and wherein said reaction is carried out to produce a terminal organonitrile.
A catalyst precursor composition comprising zero-valent nickel and a bidentate phosphite ligand of Formula I ##STR26## wherein each R.sup.1 is independently a tertiary substituted hydrocarbon of up to 12 carbon atoms, or OR.sup.4 wherein R.sup.4 is C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 alkyl;
- and
- each R.sup.5 is independently a tertiary substituted hydrocarbon of up to 12 carbon atoms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.