Composition for improved nickel-ligand solubility
US9687835B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 6, 2013 |
| Grant date | Jun 27, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 12, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01J2531/90
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
In the hydrocyanation reaction of butadiene proceeding through pentenenitriles to adiponitrile, catalysis by complexes of zerovalent nickel with bidentate phosphorus-based ligands of the NiL2A type wherein L2 is a bidentate ligand and A is an unsaturated compound, can be rate-limited by the solubility of the catalytic complex. The present invention concerns solvent compositions for the nickel-ligand complex comprising mixtures of unsaturated nitriles that provide for increased metal solubility, particularly in the absence of a Lewis acid promoter, resulting in higher hydrocyanation reaction rates in an industrial-scale process for production of important nylon manufacturing intermediates. The mixed nitrile solvent compositions can include mixtures of pentenenitriles and/or methylbutenenitriles. The mixtures of mixed unsaturated nitriles can be, at least in part, from recycle streams from the hydrocyanation reaction for which the nickel-bidentate ligand complexes are used as catalysts.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.