EP2001836A1

EP2001836A1 - Improved method for producing sodium chloride-free ammonium nitriles

Info

Publication number: EP2001836A1
Application number: EP07723312A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lars Cuypers; Werner Janitschek; Isabel Scheffer
Original assignee: Clariant International Ltd
Current assignee: Clariant Finance BVI Ltd
Priority date: 2006-03-24
Filing date: 2007-03-16
Publication date: 2008-12-17
Also published as: DE102006013665A1; JP2009530329A; US20090149668A1; WO2007110163A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing compounds of formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3 and Z are defined as in the description. The method according to the invention is characterized by reacting a tertiary amine of the formula NR1R2R3 with chloracetonitrile in an organic solvent and then adding an alkylating substance R11-Z, R11 being C1-C4 alkyl.

Description

description

Improved process for the production of sodium chloride-free ammonium nitriles

This invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of low hygroscopicity ammonium nitriles by reacting a tertiary amine with chloroacetonitrile in an organic solvent and then adding an alkylating substance, e.g. Dimethyl sulfate or methyl tosylate.

Inorganic peroxygen compounds, particularly hydrogen peroxide and solid peroxygen compounds which dissolve in water to release hydrogen peroxide, such as sodium perborate and sodium carbonate perhydrate, have long been used as oxidizing agents for disinfecting and bleaching purposes. The oxidation effect of these substances in dilute solutions depends strongly on the temperature; Thus, for example, with hydrogen peroxide or perborate in alkaline bleaching liquors only at temperatures above about 80 ⁰ C, a sufficiently fast bleaching of soiled textiles.

It is known that the oxidation effect of peroxidic bleaches, such as perborates, percarbonates, persilicates and perphosphates, can be improved at low temperatures by adding precursors of bleaching peroxyacids, so-called bleach activators. Many substances are known in the art as bleach activators. These are usually reactive organic compounds having an O-acyl or N-acyl group which in alkaline solution together with a source of hydrogen peroxide form the corresponding peroxyacids.

Representative examples of bleach activators are about

N, N, N ', N'-tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED), glucose pentaacetate (GPA) ₁ xylose tetraacetate (TAX), sodium 4-benzoyloxybenzenesulfonate (SBOBS), Sodium trimethylhexanoyloxybenzenesulfonate (STHOBS), tetraacetylglycoluril (TAGU), tetraacetylcyanoic acid (TACA), di-N-acetyldimethylglyoxime (ADMG), 1-phenyl-3-acetylhydantoin (PAH), sodium nonanoyloxybenzoisulfonate (NOBS) and sodium -isononanoyloxy-benzenesulfonate (ISONOBS). By adding these substances, the bleaching effect of aqueous

Peroxide solutions are increased so that even at temperatures around 60 ⁰ C, essentially the same effects as with the peroxide solution alone at 95 ⁰ C.

Meanwhile, some have cationic compounds that are quaternary

Containing ammonium group, gained in importance, since they represent highly effective bleach activators. Such cationic bleach activators are described, for example, in GB-A-1 382 594, US-A-4 751 015, EP-A-0 284 292, EP-A-0 331 229.

Ammonium nitriles of the formula

form a special class of cationic bleach activators. Compounds of this type and their use as activators in bleaching agents are for

Example described in EP-A-303 520, EP-A-458 396 and EP-A-464 880.

Probably these compounds form in the perhydrolysis one

Peroxyimidic acid, which acts as a bleaching agent.

It is known that many ammonium nitriles which possess a halide as counteranion X ^" have a high hygroscopicity and are therefore suitable for use in solid form

Washing and cleaning agents are unsuitable. EP-A-0464880 describes

Ammonium nitriles of the general formula

wherein R ₄ and R _{5 are} each individually H or a substituent group containing at least one carbon atom; R ^{1 is} straight-chain or branched-chain, a C ¹ -C ₂₄ -alkyl-alkenyl or -alkyl ether group or CR ₄ R ₅ CN; R ² and R ³ each individually represents a C 1 -C ₄ -alkyl or -hydroxyalkyl group; or R ¹ also represents a group of the formula:

R ² Y-NC-R ₄ R ₅ CN ⁺ - (CH ₂ ) _n -

R ³

wherein n is an integer of 1 to about 4; and Y ^"is the counter anion selected from the group 1) R-SO ₃ ^" , 2) R-SO ₄ ^" , 3) R-CO ₂ ^" , where R is a straight-chain or branched-chain, optionally substituted alkyl, alkyl ether or alkylene group containing 4 to 20 carbon atoms, or a phenyl or alkylphenyl group containing 6 to 20 carbon atoms, and 4) surfactant anions which do not fall under groups 1), 2) and 3). These compounds show significantly lower hygroscopicity compared to the compounds containing halide counteranions. EP-A-464 880 describes three preparation routes for the synthesis of said compounds: two direct syntheses using methyl sulfonates or methyl sulfates as alkylating quaternizing reagents and anion exchange in alcoholic solvents. The anion exchange reactions in alcoholic solvents described in EP-A-464 880 in Example I have a remarkably high consumption of solvents and energy; Thus, in Example c for the preparation of 3.4 g of product, only 100 ml of methanol are added and distilled off and then added to 150 ml of iso-propanol and distilled off again. This procedure is not ecologically and economically useful for large-scale processes. In addition, it succeeds through this

Anion exchange reaction not to isolate a sodium chloride-free product.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to develop a process which can be carried out both industrially and continuously, and which leads to products which can be produced with reasonable effort in very good yields Composition, quality and color are suitable for use in detergents and cleaners and are free of sodium chloride.

Surprisingly, it has now been found that ammonium nitriles of the type described above can be synthesized very simply by reacting the corresponding tertiary amines with chloroacetonitrile in organic solvents and then adding alkylating compounds, such as e.g. Dimethyl sulfate or methyl tosylate are produced.

The present invention thus relates to a process for the preparation of compounds of the general formula

wherein R ¹ is a straight- or branched-chain C-ι-C ₂₄ alkyl, C ₂ -C ₂₄ alkenyl or C ₂₄ - alkyl ether group or CH ₂ CN or a group of formula

R ²

Z ^" NC-H ₂ C-N ( ⁺ ) (CH ₂ V

R ³

means; R ² and R ³ each individually represents a Ci-Cs-alkyl or dC ₄ - hydroxyalkyl group; n is an integer from 1 to 4; and Z ^"is a counter anion of the formula R-SO ₃ ^" or R-SO ₄ ^" wherein R is a straight- or branched-chain, optionally substituted alkyl, alkylether or alkylene group containing from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a phenyl or Alkylphenyl group containing a total of 6 to 20 carbon atoms, characterized in that a tertiary amine of the formula NR ¹ R ² R ³ with chloroacetonitrile in an organic Reacting solvent and then adding an alkylating substance Rn-Z, wherein Rn is a Ci-C ₃ alkyl group added.

The invention relates to both compounds of the above formula (I) wherein ^R1 is a straight or branched C _r C ₄ alkyl, C ₂ -C ₄ -alkenyl or C ₁ -C ₄ -

Alkyl ether group or a group -CH ₂ CN and R ² and R ³ individually one

C 1 -C ₄ -alkyl or C 1 -C ₄ -hydroxyalkyl group, and also compounds of the formula (I) in which R ^{1 is} a group of the formula

R2

Z - NC-CH ₂ N ⁽⁺⁾ (CH ₂ ) _n

R ³

R ² and R ^{3 are} each individually a C 1 -C ₄ -alkyl or C 1 -C ₄ -hydroxyalkyl group and n is an integer from 1 to 4, and compounds of the formula (I) wherein R ^{1 is} a C ₅ -C ₂₄ alkyl, Cs-C ₂₄ -alkenyl or C ₅ -C ₂₄ alkyl ether group and R ² and R ³ individually individually a C-ι-C ₈ alkyl or Ci-C ₄ -Hydroxyalkylgruppe mean.

The tertiary amines used as starting compounds are preferably compounds of the formula NR ¹ R ² R ³ in which R ^{1 is} C ₁ - to C ₂₄ -alkyl and R ² and R ³ are each independently of the other C ₁ - to C ₈ - Alkyl or diamines of the formula

in which R ² and R ³ independently of one another C ₁ - to C ₈ alkyl.

The tertiary amines and the diamines may be pure substances or mixtures of different amines of different C chain lengths. Preferably, the alkylating substances Rn-Z are the methyl or ethyl esters of optionally substituted benzenesulfonates or the methyl or ethyl esters of alkyl sulfates.

In the organic solvents used are preferably ketones, acetates, aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene, xylene or cumene, alkanes having a boiling point> 30 ⁰ C, di- or trichloromethane, N-methylpyrrolidone, acetonitrile, 1, 3-dimethylimidazolidin-2 -one, N ₁ N-dimethylacetamide, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide or mixtures of these solvents.

Tertiary monoamine and chloroacetonitrile are reacted in a ratio of 0.9: 1 to 2: 1, preferably 1: 1 to 1, 5: 1 with each other. Tertiary diamine and chloroacetonitrile are reacted in a ratio of 1: 1 to 1: 4, preferably 1: 1, 5 to 1: 2.5 with each other. The alkylating substance Rn-Z is in the ratio 0.5: 1 to 2: 1, preferably 0.75: 1 to 1, 5: 1 based on the tertiary monoamine, or in the ratio 1: 1 to 4: 1, preferably 1, 5: 1 to 2.5: 1 based on the tertiary diamine added.

The reaction of the amine with chloroacetonitrile is conducted at temperatures between 25 and 150 ⁰ C, preferably 30-100 ⁰ C is performed. The addition of the alkylating compound Rn-Z is performed at temperatures between 25 and 150 ⁰ C, preferably 30-100 ⁰ C is performed. The isolation of the product is carried out at temperatures between -30 and 50 ⁰ C, preferably -10 and 30 ° C. The addition of the compound Rn-Z can be carried out in solid or liquid form or in the form of a suspension or solution based on the organic solvent.

The total reaction time depends on the reaction conditions and can be between 1 and 24 hours, preferably 2 to 10 hours. In a particular embodiment, the process according to the invention can be carried out continuously. Particularly suitable for this purpose are boiler cascades or tubular reactors, as are known to the person skilled in the art.

After completion of the reaction, the reaction product is isolated by conventional separation methods. For this purpose, centrifuges or filter apparatuses are suitable. to Purification of the final product, it is advisable to wash out the solid reaction product one or more times with the reaction medium or the solvent. The mother liquor may optionally be used or cyclized without purification for the next reaction. The resulting alkyl chlorides, such as methyl chloride or ethyl chloride, are optionally removed from the reaction mixture via the gas phase while being flushed with inert gases such as nitrogen. The alkyl chlorides may optionally be used after purification in the further synthesis of the tertiary amine NR ¹ R ² R ³ .

The advantage of the method according to the invention is that it is possible to prepare the hydrolysis-stable sulfate or sulfonate salts without the product being contaminated with chloride and alkali ions.

The ammonium nitrile formed is obtained in high yields in the form of a colorless powder which can be isolated by conventional drying. The ammonium nitrile obtained in this way can be used as a bleach activator in detergents and cleaners, such as powdered or tableted heavy-duty detergents, spot salts or powdered machine dishwashing detergents. To increase the storage stability in these formulations, it can be converted into a granular form, as known to those skilled in the art.

Examples

Example 1: Synthesis of (cyanomethyl) diethylmethylammonium tosylate

43.59 g (0.5 mol) of diethylmethylamine were initially charged at 50 ^° C. in 500 ml of ethyl acetate, and 37.75 g (0.5 mol) of chloroacetonitrile were added. The reaction mixture was stirred at 60 ° C for 4 hours. Then 93.12 g (0.5 mol) of para-toluenesulfonic acid methyl ester are added and the reaction mixture is stirred under reflux for 60 minutes, during which a strong evolution of gas was observed. The reaction mixture was slowly Chilled at 5 ° C, the precipitated solid washed twice with 50 ml of ethyl acetate and dried at 60 ⁰ C in vacuo.

There were obtained 143.3 g (0.48 mo!) (Cyanomethyl) diethylmethylammonium tosylate as a colorless solid, corresponding to a yield of 96%. ¹ H NMR (D ₂ O): δ = 7.70 (2H, d); δ = 7.36 (2H, d); δ = 4.62 (2H, s); δ = 3.54 (4H, q); δ = 3.17 (3H, s); δ = 2.39 (3H, s); δ = 1.37 (6H, t).

Example 2: Synthesis of (cyanomethyl) di-iso-propylmethylammonium tosylate

57.61 g (0.5 mol) of di-iso-propylmethylamin were initially introduced into 500 ml of butyl acetate at 50 ⁰ C and 37.75 g (0.5 mol) of chloroacetonitrile was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at 6O ⁰ C for 4 hours. Then 100.13 g (0.5 mol) of para-toluenesulfonate were added and the reaction mixture was stirred for 60 minutes at 80 ⁰ C, with a strong evolution of gas was observed. The reaction mixture was slowly cooled to 5 ° C, the precipitated solid washed twice with 50 ml of butyl acetate and dried at 60 ⁰ C in vacuo.

131. 42 g (0.41 mol) of (cyanomethyl) diisopropylmethylammonium tosylate were obtained as a colorless solid, corresponding to a yield of 81%.

¹ H-NMR (D ₂ O): δ = 7.65 (2 H, d); δ = 7.32 (2H, d); δ = 4.75 (2H, s); δ = 4.13 (2H, m); δ = 2.97 (3H, s); δ = 2.34 (3H, s); δ = 1.47 (6H, d); δ = 1, 42 (6H, d).

Example 3: Synthesis of N.N.N'.N'-tetramethyl-N, N'-di-yanomethyl-1-ethane-diammonium-dodosylate

37.75 g (0.5 mol) of chloroacetonitrile were initially charged in 100 ml of ethyl acetate and, with stirring at room temperature, 29 g (0.25 mol) of N, N, N ', N'-tetramethylethylenediamine were added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred for 5 hours at 5O ⁰ C. Then, 93.12 g (0.5 mol) of para-toluenesulfonic acid methyl ester was added, and the reaction mixture was stirred at reflux for 60 minutes, whereby a vigorous gas evolution was observed. The reaction mixture was cooled slowly to 5 ° C, the precipitated solid washed twice with 50 ml of ethyl acetate and dried at 6O ⁰ C in vacuo. 120.3 g were obtained (0.22 mol) of N, N, N \ N'-Tetr3methy -N, N ^'' ii (cyanomethy!) - 1, 2 ethandiammoniumditosylat as a white solid, corresponding to a yield of 89% ,

¹ H-NMR (D ₂ O): δ = 7.70 (4 H ₁ d); δ = 7.37 (4H, d); δ = 4.32 (4H, s); δ = 3.52 (12H, s); δ = 2.39 (6H, s)

Example 4: Synthesis of (cyanomethyl) dimethyloctylammonium tosylate

157.3 g (1 mol) of dimethyl octyl amine were initially charged in 1000 ml of butyl acetate at 50 ⁰ C and 75.5 g (1 mol) of chloroacetonitrile was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at 60 ^° C. for 6 hours. Then, 186.23 g (1 mol) of para-toluenesulfonic acid methyl ester were added and the reaction mixture was stirred for 90 minutes at 8O ⁰ C, with a strong

Gas evolution was observed. The reaction mixture was slowly cooled to 5 ⁰ C, the precipitated solid washed twice with 50 ml of butyl acetate and dried at 60 ⁰ C in vacuo. There were obtained 353.8 g (0.96 mol) of (cyanomethyl) dimethyloctylammonium tosylate as a colorless solid, corresponding to a yield of 96%.

¹ H NMR (D ₂ O): δ = 7.70 (2H, d); δ = 7.37 (2H, d); δ = 4.75 (2H, s); δ = 3.56 (2H, m); δ = 3.33 (6H, s); δ = 2.40 (3H, s); δ = 1.85 (2H, m); δ = 1.45-1.26 (10H, m); δ = 0.89 (3H, t).

Example 5: Synthesis of (cyanomethyl) dimethyldodecylammonium methylsulfate

113.4 g (1 mol) dimethyldodecylamine were initially charged in 1000 ml of toluene at 50 ⁰ C and 75.5 g (1 mol) of chloroacetonitrile was added. The reaction mixture was

Stirred for 6 hours at 60 ° C. Then 126.13 g (1 mol) of dimethyl sulfate were added and the reaction mixture was stirred for 90 minutes at 80 ⁰ C, with a strong evolution of gas was observed. The reaction mixture was slowly cooled to 5 ° C, the precipitated solid washed twice with 50 ml of toluene and dried at 60 ⁰ C in vacuo. There were obtained 335.39 g (0.92 mol) of (cyanomethyl) dimethyldodecylammonium methyl sulfate as a colorless solid, corresponding to a yield of 92%.

¹ H NMR (D ₂ O): δ = 4.75 (2H, s); δ = 3.75 (3H, s); δ = 3.59 (2H, t); δ = 3.39 (6H, s); δ = 1.90 (2H, m); δ = 1.45-1.30 (18H, m); δ = 0.92 (3H, t).

Example 6 Synthesis of (Cyanomethyl) dimethyldodecylammonium parododecylbenzenesulfonate

213.4 g (1 mol) of dimethyldodecylamine were initially charged in 500 ml of ethyl acetate at 50 ° C., and 75.5 g (1 mol) of chloroacetonitrile were added. The reaction mixture was stirred at 60 ^° C. for 6 hours. Then 340.52 g (1 mol) para-dodecylbenzenesulfonic-säuremethylester were added and the reaction mixture stirred for 90 minutes at 8O ⁰ C, with vigorous evolution of gas was observed. The reaction mixture was slowly cooled to 5 ° C, the precipitated solid washed twice with 50 ml of ethyl acetate and dried at 60 ⁰ C in vacuo.

504.5 g (0.89 mol) of (cyanomethyl) dimethyldodecylammonium parododecylbenzenesulfonate were obtained as a colorless solid, corresponding to a yield of 89%.

¹ H-NMR (CDCl ₃ ): δ = 7.73 (2H, d); δ = 7.16 (2H, d); δ = 5.32 (2H, s); δ = 3.58 (2H, t); δ = 3.47 (6H, s); δ = 1.75 (2H, m), δ = 1, 68-1, 45 (4H, m); δ = 1, 33-1, 0 (36 H, m); δ = 0.87 (6H, t).

Example 7: Synthesis of (cyanomethyl) dimethyl decyl ammonium tosylate

185.35 g (1 mol) dimethyldecylamine were initially charged in 1000 ml of butyl acetate at 50 ⁰ C and 75.5 g (1 mol) of chloroacetonitrile was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at 60 ^° C. for 6 hours. Then 200.26 g (1 mol) of para-toluenesulfonic acid ethyl ester were added and the reaction mixture was stirred for 90 minutes at 80 ⁰ C, with a strong evolution of gas was observed. The reaction mixture was cooled slowly to 5 ⁰ C, the precipitated Washed twice with 50 ml of butyl acetate and dried at 60 ⁰ C in vacuo.

There were 368.78 g (0.93 rr.o!) (Cyanomethyl) dimethyldecylammonium tosylate as a colorless solid, corresponding to a yield of 93%. ¹ H NMR (D ₂ O): δ = 7.70 (2H, d); δ = 7.37 (2H, d); δ = 4.75 (2H, s); δ = 3.56 (2H, m); δ = 3.33 (6H, s); δ = 2.40 (3H, s); δ = 1.85 (2H ₁ m); δ = 1, 43-1, 25 (14H, m); δ = 0.89 (3H, t).

Claims

claims

1. A process for the production of sodium chloride-free ammonium nitriles of the general formula

wherein R ¹ is a straight- or branched-chain C ₁ -C ₂ -C ₂₄ -AIKyI-, C kenyl- ₂₄ Al or Cr C ₂₄ - alkyl ether group or CH ₂ CN or a group of formula

R ²

Z-NC-H ₂ C-N ⁽⁺⁾ (CH ₂ ) _n

R ³

means; R ² and R ³ each individually represents a C 1 -C ₈ -alkyl or C 1 -C ₄ -hydroxyalkyl group; n is an integer from 1 to 4; and Z ^"is a counter anion of the formula R-SO ₃ ^" or R-SO ₄ ^" , wherein R is a straight or branched chain, optionally substituted alkyl, alkyl ether or

Alkylene group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a phenyl or alkylphenyl group containing a total of 6 to 20 carbon atoms, characterized in that reacting a tertiary amine of the formula NR ¹ R ² R ³ with chloroacetonitrile in an organic solvent and then an alkylating substance Rn-Z ₁ wherein Rn represents a Ci-C- ₃ alkyl group admits.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that one prepares a compound of formula (I) wherein R ¹ is a straight- or branched-Cr C ₄ alkyl, C ₂ -C kenyl- ₄ -alkyl or C _r C ₄ alkyl ether group or -CH ₂ CN and R ² and R ³ each individually represents a -C ₄ alkyl or CrC mean ₄ hydroxyalkyl group and Z ^'has the meaning given in claim. 1

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that one prepares a compound of formula (I), wherein R ^{1 is} a group of the formula

R ²

Z ^' NC-H ₂ C NT (CH ₂ ) _n -

R ³

and R ² and R ^{3 are} each individually a C _r C ₄ alkyl or CrC ₄ -

Hydroxylalkyl group and Z ^"has the meaning given in claim 1.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that one prepares a compound of formula (I), wherein R ^{1 is} a linear or branched chain C ₅ - C ₂₄ alkyl, C ₅ -C ₂₄ alkenyl or C ₅ - C ₂₄ -Al kylethergruppe means and R ² , R ³ , n and Z ^"have the meaning given in claim 1.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate from the reaction of the amine with chloroacetonitrile is not isolated or purified.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that one adds a compound of formula Rn, wherein Rn represents a methyl or ethyl group.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that is added as the compound of formula Rn-Z methyl tosylate, ethyl tosylate, Dodecylbenzolsulfonsäuremethylester or dimethyl sulfate.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that one prepares a compound of formula (I) wherein R ^{1 is} d- to Ci ₈ alkyl.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that one produces a V Veerrbbiinndduunngg ddeerr FFoorrmmeel (I), wherein R ² and R ^{3 are} each individually a Ci-Cβ- alkyl group.

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that acetone, butanone, pentanone, hexanone, cyclohexanone, methyl isobutyl ketone, acetic acid alkyl ester toluene, XyIoI ₁ cumene, hexane, heptane, octane, dichloromethane, trichloromethane, dimethyl sulfoxide, N-methylpyrrolidone , 1, 3-dimethylimidazolidin-2-one, dimethylformamide, N, N-dimethylacetamide, acetonitrile or mixtures of these solvents used as an organic solvent.