Process for the preparation of epsilon-caprolactam and epsilon-caprolactam precursors
AssigneesDsm N.V., E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company
InventorsHenricus F. W. Wolters, Samuel L. Lane, Wim Buijs, Nicolaas F. Haasen, Frank E. Herkes
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Abstract
A process for the preparation of .epsilon.-caprolactam and .epsilon.-caprolactam precursors, starting from the corresponding 5-formylvalerate ester, ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst is disclosed, wherein in a step (a) 5-formylvalerate ester is reacted with ammonia under non-hydrogenating conditions, and in a step (b) the reaction product obtained in step (a) is converted to .epsilon.-caprolactam and the .epsilon.-caprolactam precursor(s) under hydrogenating conditions, in the presence of ammonia.
Claims14
A process for the preparation of .epsilon.-caprolactam and .epsilon.-caprolactam precursor, starting from the corresponding 5-formylvalerate ester, ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, comprising the combination of steps of:
- (a) reacting said 5-formylvalerate ester with ammonia under non-hydrogenating conditions to obtain a reaction product;
- and
- (b) converting the reaction product obtained in step (a) to .epsilon.-caprolactam and the .epsilon.-caprolactam precursor(s) under hydrogenating conditions in the presence of ammonia.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.