Simultaneous preparation of caprolactam and hexamethylenediamine

US5717090A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Peter Bassler · Viernheim, DE
• Hermann Luyken · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Gunther Achhammer · Mannheim, DE
• Tom Witzel · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Eberhard Fuchs · Bischofswerda, DE
• Rolf Fischer · Heidelberg, DE
• Werner Schnurr · Herxheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 30, 1995
• Grant date: Feb 10, 1998
• Expiry date: Nov 30, 2015

Classification

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

Abstract

Caprolactam and hexamethylenediamine are prepared simultaneously starting from adiponitrile by a process in which PA1 (a) adiponitrile is partially hydrogenated to give a mixture containing essentially 6-aminocapronitrile, hexamethylenediamine, ammonia, adiponitrile and hexamethyleneimine, PA1 (b) the mixture obtained in (a) is subjected to a distillation to give ammonia as the top product and a bottom product I, PA1 (c) the bottom product I containing essentially 6-aminocapronitrile, hexamethylenediamine, adiponitrile, hexamethyleneimine, inert compound A and ammonia, the ammonia content being lower than that of the mixture used in stage (b), is subjected to a second distillation to give a mixture comprising the inert compound A and ammonia as the top product and a bottom product II, PA1 (d) the bottom product II is subjected, in a third column, to a distillation to give the inert compound A as the top product and a bottom product III, PA1 (e) the bottom product III is subjected, in a fourth column, to a distillation to give a top product KP1, containing essentially hexamethyleneimine and a bottom product IV, PA1 (f) the top product KP1 is subjected, in a fifth column, to a distil…