PREPARATION OF CAPROLACTAM

摘要

.epsilon.-caprolactam is prepared by a process in which a) a 5-formylvalerate is reacted with water in the presence of an acidic agewnt at from 30 to 200.degree.C, b) the 5-formylvaleric acid thus obtained is reacted with excess ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst and of a solvent which is inert under the reaction conditions, at from 50 to 150.degree.C under superatmospheric pressure, and c) after the ammonia has been separated off, the resulting solution of 6-aminocaproic acid is heated to 150370.degree.C and the caprolactam formed is isolated.