Preparation of 3-aminomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylamine

摘要

A process for the preparation of 3-aminomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylamine from 3-cyano-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexanone which requires three spatially separated reaction spaces, in order to carry out the following three steps in sequence: a) reacting the 3-cyano-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexanone with excess ammonia on acidic metal-oxide catalysts in a first reaction space at from 20 DEG to 150 DEG C. and from 50 to 300 bar, b) hydrogenating the resultant reaction products using hydrogen in a second reaction space in the presence of excess ammonia and preferably liquid ammonia on hydrogenation catalysts, optionally using basic components or on neutral or basic supports at from 50 DEG to 100 DEG C. and at from 50 to 300 bar, and c) hydrogenating the resultant reaction products in the presence of hydrogen and also ammonia in a third reaction space on hydrogenation catalysts, optionally using basic components or on neutral or basic supports at from 110 DEG to 160 DEG C. and at from 150 to 300 bar. These three steps in sequence provide a substantially complete reaction of the original 3-cyano-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanone reactant with a yield of 96% of the desired diamino product in which the cis-content of the diamine is 70%.