Process for the preparation of long-chain N-alkanesulphonic acids from acrylamides and methacrylamides

摘要

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of N-alkanesulphonic acids from acrylamides or methacrylamides and their salts of the formula <IMAGE> in which R1 stands for hydrogen or methyl, Y stands for an alkylene radical having 5 to 18 carbon atoms and Me stands for a proton or another cation by reaction of a nitrile of the formula II <IMAGE> in which R1 has the meaning described above, with an olefin of the formula III <IMAGE> in which R2 and R3 stand for hydrogen or an alkyl radical having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, with the proviso that the sum of the carbon atoms of R2 and R3 is at least 3 and at most 16, and with oleum, in which the unreacted compound of the formula II is removed to the greatest possible extent by distillation after reaction is complete and the compound of the formula I formed is obtained in anhydrous solution, which mainly contains concentrated sulphuric acid.