Verfahren zur Herstellung von alpha-Alkyl-omega-amino-alkannitrilen

摘要

The invention comprises a -alkyl-o -amino-alkane nitriles of the formula wherein n is 2-13 and R3 is a C1-25 alkyl radical. The compounds are made by hydrogenation of compounds of the formula wherein N is 1-12 and R1 and R2 are hydrogen or a C1-12 alkyl group, using a Group VII metal hydrogenation catalyst at temperatures above 50 DEG C. and in the presence of ammonium or a C3-18 tertiary alkylamine at a superatmospheric pressure sufficient to keep in the liquid phase at least one mol of ammonia or amine per mol of nitrile. An inert diluent, e.g. an alkanol, may be present. The preferred temperature and pressure ranges are 80-120 DEG C. and 85-350 atm. respectively. The novel compounds can be hydrolysed to the corresponding amino acids which in turn may be converted to the lactams. Examples I-VI relate to 2-methyl-5-aminovaleronitrile and Examples VII and VIII describe the hydrolysis of this compound to 2 - methyl - 5 - aminopentanoic acid and its cyclization to 2-oxo-3-methylpiperidine.