Production of N-(methyl aryl)-2-lactam, N-(methyl cycloalkyl)-2-lactam and N-alkyl-2-lactam by reductive amination of lactones with aryl and alkyl cyano compounds

A process for preparing a reaction product comprising N-alkyl-2-lactam (VI) the process comprising the step of contacting a lactone (I) with an alkyl cyano compound (V), in the presence of hydrogen gas and a catalyst, the catalyst being optionally supported on a catalyst support, and, optionally, said contacting is performed in the presence of a solvent;

• wherein:
• (i) n=0-11;
• (ii) R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 taken independently are hydrogen, hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl, C1 to C18 unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl containing at least one heteroatom, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, and unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl;
• and
• (iii) R9 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 30 carbons, and wherein R9 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.