Ammonia → 4-Methylcyclohexanone

Participants

Reaction Steps

4,4' -Dimethyl-1,1'-peroxydicyclohexylamine (5 g.) derived from the reaction of 4-methylcyclohexanone, hydrogen peroxide and ammonia) was added to a solution of sodium methoxide in methanol (1 g. of sodium in 20 c.c. methanol) and the mixture heated under reflux for 2 hours when very little peroxide remained unreacted. The product was worked up as in Example 17 to give, on distillation, 4-methylcyclohexanone (2.2 g.), 4-methyl-caprolactam (2.2 g.), b.p. 145°-150°/15 mm, and residue (0.3 g.). The structure of the lactam was confirmed by I.R. and N.M.R. spectra.

Provenance & Evidence