Preparation of 2-pyrrolidinones

US5136051A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Ludwig Schuster · Schifferstadt, DE
• Ulrich Koehler · Heidelberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 8, 1991
• Grant date: Aug 4, 1992
• Expiry date: Oct 8, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07D201/08
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for the preparation of a 2-pyrrolidinone of the general formula I ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkyl, or C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl optionally substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, or phenyl optionally substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, by reacting a 3-cyanopropionate of the general formula II ##STR2## in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 have the meanings stated above and R.sup.3 denotes C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, with hydrogen at elevated temperature and pressure, wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of ammonia and in contact with a catalyst containing cobalt, manganese, and phosphorus.