PROCESS TO CONTINUOUSLY PREPARE AN AQUEOUS MIXTURE OF (E)-CAPROLACTAM AND (E)-CAPROLACTAM PRECURSORS

摘要

This continuous process for preparing an aqueous mixture of +531 -caprolactam and 6-aminocaproic acid and/or 6-aminocaproamide by involves, as the reductive amination step, continuously contacting 5-formylvaleric acid or an alkyl 5-formylvalerate in water as solvent with hydrogen and an excess of ammonia in the presence of a ruthenium on carrier, as a catalyst, wherein the carrier is at least one of titanium oxide or zirconium oxide. The aqueous mixture can be used to prepare +531 -caprolactam.