# US RE31,356 E · Hydration of nitriles to amides using cupreous catalysts

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- Number: US RE31,356 E
- Document ID: USRE31356E
- Status: Granted
- Kind: E
- Application number: 06/238,395
- Filed: 1981-02-26
- Granted: 1983-08-23
- Earliest claimed: 1969-06-23
- Assignees: The Dow Chemical Company
- Inventors: Clarence E. Habermann; Ben A. Tefertiller
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/USRE31356E

## Abstract

[Aliphatic nitriles] Olefinic nitriles of three to six carbon atoms are converted to the corresponding amides by contacting the nitrile in the presence of water with a cupreous catalyst containing copper prepared by reducing copper hydroxide or a copper salt.

## Claims

### Claim 1

In the process for converting an [aliphatic nitrile] olefinic nitrile of 3 to 6 carbon atoms to the corresponding amide by reacting the nitrile with water in the presence of a catalyst, the improvement comprising conducting the reaction in the presence of a catalytic amount of copper prepared by reducing copper hydroxide or a copper salt.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is obtained from copper hydroxide or a copper salt having an anion containing nitrogen, sulfur or an organic carboxylic acid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is obtained from copper nitrate, copper acetate, copper carbonate, copper oxalate, copper sulfide, copper chloride or copper hydroxide.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is obtained from copper nitrate, copper acetate or copper oxalate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is prepared by a hydrogen reduction of copper nitrate, copper acetate, copper carbonate, copper hydroxide or copper oxalate at a temperature of about 50.degree. to about 500.degree. C.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The process of claim 5 wherein the temperature is about 150.degree. to about 350.degree. C.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the copper hydroxide or copper salt is reduced with NaBH.sub.4 or hydrazine in the liquid phase.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the reducing agent is an active metal.

### Claim at position 9 (depends on 1)

[9. The process of claim 1 wherein the nitrile is an olefinic nitrile of
three to six cabron atoms.] 10. The process of claim 1 wherein the nitrile is acrylonitrile.