| 摘要 |
This invention relates in part to processes for producing one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactams, e.g., epsilon caprolactam, which comprise (a) converting one or more substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyaldehydes, e.g., 6-hydroxyhexanal, optionally in the presence of a catalyst or a catalyst and promoter, to one or more substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyamides, e.g. 6-hydroxycaproamide, and/or one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactam precursors, e.g., 6-aminocaproamide, epsilon caprolactone, epsilon caprolactone oligomers and esters of 6-hydroxycaproic acid and mixtures thereof, and (b) converting said one or more substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyamides and/or said one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactam precursors, optionally in the presence of a catalyst or a catalyst and promoter, to said one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactams; wherein the amount of byproducts resulting from reduction and/or reductive amination of said one or more substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyaldehydes, e.g., 1,6-hexanediol, aminohexanol, and the like, is no greater than about 10 weight percent, preferably no greater than about 5 weight percent, and more preferably no greater than about 1 weight percent, of the total of said one or more substituted or unsubstituted hydroxyamides and/or one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactam precursors. This invention also relates in part to reaction mixtures containing one or more substituted or unsubstituted epsilon caprolactams as principal product(s) of reaction.
|
