Preparation of 5-cyanovalerates

US5616773A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Stefan Stahl · Eppelheim, DE
• Wolfgang Harder · Weinheim, DE
• Arthur Hoehn · Ludwigshafen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 10, 1995
• Grant date: Apr 1, 1997
• Expiry date: Apr 10, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C253/30
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Preparation of 5-cyanovalerates (I) by the carbonylation of a 1-cyanobutene with carbon monoxide and an alkanol (II) corresponding to the ester radical at an elevated temperature and under superatmospheric pressure in the presence of a cobalt catalyst as well as in the presence of an activating solvent, in which the activating solvent used is an effective amount of a urea of the formula IIIc EQU R.sub.2 N--CO--NR.sub.2 (IIIc) where R is, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.7 -cycloalkyl or where 2R groups together form 5-membered to 7-membered rings. The end products I serve as intermediates, chiefly for the preparation of .epsilon.-caprolactam.