Continuous process for the preparation of amines

A continuous process for the preparation of cyclopropylamines which comprises the steps of:

• I. continuously feeding (i) an aqueous solution of a cyclopropanecarboxamide and (ii) a solution comprising sodium hypochlorite and sodium hydroxide to a first reaction zone comprising a tubular reactor, wherein the cyclopropanecarboxamide, sodium hypochlorite, and sodium hydroxide react to form a first reaction mixture comprising an N-chlorocyclopropanecarboxamide;
• II. continuously removing the first reaction mixture from the first reaction zone;
• III. measuring the concentration of sodium hypochlorite in the first reaction mixture using UV-Visible spectroscopy and using the result of that measurement to control the feed rate of at least one of the solutions (i) or (ii) of Step I to achieve at least 90% conversion of the cyclopropanecarboxamide in the first reaction zone;
• and
• IV. continuously feeding the first reaction mixture from the first reaction zone to a second reaction zone wherein the first reaction mixture further reacts to form a second reaction mixture comprising an aqueous solution of a cyclopropylamine.