Process for making adiponitrile precursors

摘要

Disclosed is the reaction of propylene with acrylonitrile or acrylamide to make a cyano- or amidopentene and reacting that compound with NH3 and O2 to form mucononitrile or 5-cyano-2,4-pentadiene amide. Also disclosed is a process which comprises contacting a reactant of the formula H-(CH2)a-(CH=CH)-(CH2)bX with oxygen and ammonia to thereby form a product of the formula NC-CH=CH-CH=CH-X wherein X is -CN or -CONH2 and each of a and b are zero or an integer from 1 to 3 such that a+b=3.