Procédé de préparation de sulfonates d'ammoniums quaternaires

摘要

The invention relates to the manufacture of quaternary ammonium salts of benzenoid hydrocarbon sulphonic acids, the products being of the formula in which R1, R2, R3 and R4 are alkyl radicals of 1-5 carbon atoms, R5 is hydrogen or an alkyl radical of 1-5 carbon atoms and n is 1-4. The products are prepared by the addition of a tertiary alkyl amine containing 1-5 carbon atoms in each alkyl residue to an ester of a benzenoid hydrocarbon sulfonic acid containing 1-5 carbon atoms in the ester group, the reaction being effected in an aqueous medium with the use of an excess of trialkylamine, which is removed by distillation when the reaction is complete. In typical examples, (1) trimethylamine and methyl benzene sulphonate yield tetramethylammonium benzene sulphon ate and (2) triethylamine and ethyl p-toluene sulphonate yield tetraethylammonium p-tolu ene sulphonate. Other products described include tetramethylammonium o-, m- or p-butylbenzene sulphonate, tetramethylammon ium mesitylene sulphonate and tetramethyl-ammonium durene sulphonate.ALSO:The electrohydrodimerization of acrylonitrile to adiponitrile is effected with the use of an electrolyte comprising an aqueous solution of a quaternary ammonium salt of a benzenoid hydrocarbon sulphonic acid of the formula in which R1, R2, R3 and R4 are alkyl radicals of 1-5 carbon atoms, R5 is hydrogen or an alkyl radical of 1-5 carbon atoms and n is 1-4 (see Division C2). The electrolyte is prepared directly in aqueous solution, and further purification or treatment is unnecessary.