Caprolactam → 6-Oxohexanoic acid

Participants

Reaction Steps

An ε-caprolactam preparation process starting from methyl 5-formylvalerate is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,040. In this process, methyl 5-formylvalerate is first hydrolyzed (step x) in the presence of water and an acidic agent to yield 5-formylvaleric acid. The acid is then further reacted (step y) in aqueous solvent with ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of a Raney nickel catalyst in one reaction step to yield 6-aminocaproic acid. After separation of ammonia, the aqueous mixture is heated to 300° C. (step z) to form ε-caprolactam by cyclization of the 6-aminocaproic acid.

Provenance & Evidence