Process for making an amine and an alkyl ester

摘要

The present invention provides a method for making an amine and an alkyl ester, which comprises heating a reaction mixture including a nitrile, an acid, water and a substrate compound, capable of generating a carbonium ion by reaction with the acid, to generate a first reaction intermediate; treating the first reaction intermediate with an acid in the presence of an alkanol to form a second reaction intermediate and an alkyl ester; separating the alkyl ester from the second reaction intermediate; and treating the second reaction intermediate with a base to form the amine.