Ammonia → Hexanamide, 6-amino-

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

25 parts of methyl 5-cyanovalerate in 40 parts of methanol are heated to 120° C in a vibratory autoclave together with 24 parts of liquid ammonia and maintained at said temperature for 6 hours. After cooling and venting the autoclave, addition is made of 2.25 parts of a nickel catalyst (77% by weight of nickel) as prepared in Example 1, suspended in 24 parts of methanol. Ammonia and methanol lost during venting are replenished. The pressure is raised to a total pressure of 100 bars by pumping in hydrogen at room temperature. After heating to 80° C, the total pressure is 150 bars. Hydrogenation is continued with replenishment of the hydrogen until no further hydrogen is absorbed. After cooling and venting the autoclave, the reaction mixture is filtered to isolate the catalyst and the filtrate is evaporated to dryness. There are thus obtained 22.4 parts of 6-aminocaproamide (97% of theory), m.p. 49° to 50° C. The IR spectrum of this product and that of authentic 6-aminocaproamide are identical.

Provenance & Evidence