Hydrogen Cyanide → 3-Cyano-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexanone

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

622 g (4.5 mol) of isophorone and 3.61 g (25.8 mmol) of 1,3-dimethylimidazolium-4-carboxylate were placed in a reaction vessel and a mixture of 207.3 g (1.5 mol) of isophorone and 81.0 g (3 mol) of hydrogen cyanide was added at 120° C. over a period of about 120 minutes. The mixture was subsequently stirred further for about 120 minutes at 120° C. After cooling, the HCN concentration was determined by titration. Free hydrocyanic acid could no longer be detected (HCN conversion>99.9%). After addition of 2.0 g of 85% strength H3PO4, the reaction product was distilled at 0.1 hPa. This gave 473 g of 3-cyano-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexanone (95.4% based on HCN used).

Provenance & Evidence