Production of 5-methyl-N-(methyl aryl)-2-pyrrolidone, 5-methyl-N-(methyl cycloalkyl)-2-pyrrolidone and 5-methyl-N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone by reductive amination of levulinic acid esters with cyano compounds

A process for preparing a cleaning composition, the process comprising the steps of:

• i) preparing 5-methyl-N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone (VI) using a process comprising the step of contacting a levulinic acid ester (I) with an alkyl cyano compound (V) in the presence of hydrogen gas and a metal catalyst, the metal catalyst being optionally supported, and, optionally, in the presence of a solvent;
• wherein R2 is hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl, C1–C18 unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkynyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl containing at least one heteroatom, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, and unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl, and wherein R4 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 30 carbons, and wherein R4 may be C1–C30 unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, C1–C30 unsubstituted or substituted alkenyl, C1–C30 unsubstituted or substituted alkynyl, C3–C30 unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl, or C3–C30 unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl containing at least one heteroatom;
• and
• ii) contacting 5-methyl-N-alkyl-2-pyrrolidone (VI) with a compound selected from the group consisting of anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, glycols, glycol ethers, aliphatic alcohols, alkanolamines, pyrrolidones, water, and mixtures thereof.