Acetonitrile → Caprolactam

Reaction equation

[H][H].S.[C:4]1(=[O:11])[NH:10][CH2:9][CH2:8][CH2:7][CH2:6][CH2:5]1.[C:12](#N)C>C1COCC1>[CH3:12][CH:4]1[CH2:5][CH2:6][CH:7]([CH3:8])[O:11]1.[C:4]1(=[O:11])[NH:10][CH2:9][CH2:8][CH2:7][CH2:6][CH2:5]1

Participants

Procedure

Prior to optimization of the initial H2/H2S atmosphere and the mol % catalyst of presulfided Pt (Pt—S/C) employed, a range of solvents is examined (Table 5). No formation of caprolactam is observed using acetonitrile (entry 1, Table 5) as solvent. The highest yield of caprolactam is achieved using THF (entry 2, Table 5). Use of 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran (entry 3, Table 5) results in a tenfold reduction in the yield of caprolactam relative to use of THF as solvent (entry 3 vs. entry 2, Table 5).