GB282083A - Improved manufacture of primary amines - Google Patents

Abstract

282,083. Fabriques de Produits de Chimie Organique de Laire, (Assignees of Mignonac). Dec. 9, 1926, [Convention date]. Primary amines.-The production of primary amines by treating suitable nitrogenous compounds, such as oximes and nitriles, with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenating catalyst is performed in the presence of ammonia. The reaction may be carried out in the gaseous or the liquid phase, with or without a diluent or a solvent, and the ammonia may be added in the gaseous or the liquid state or in a combined form, for instance as an ammonium salt or a complex ammoniacal compound. According to the examples, (1) a mixture of ammonia, hydrogen, and acetonitrile vapour is passed over reduced nickel at a temperature of 180‹ C. ; the yield of ethylamine is greater than that obtained when the ammonia is omitted, in which event diethylamine is the principal product and triethylamine also is obtained; (2) a mixture of ammonia, hydrogen, and benzonitrile vapour is passed over reduced copper at a temperature of 250‹ C., whereby benzylamine is obtained : (3) propanone oxime is treated as in example (1) and yields 2-aminopropane; it is stated that if the ammonia is omitted the principal product is a secondary amine; (4) acetonitrile is dissolved in a solution of ammonia in aqueous alcohol saturated with ammonium chloride, and the solution is agitated in an atmosphere of hydrogen in the presence of a nickel catalyst at a raised pressure and at a temperature of 50‹ C.; the product is ethylamine; (5) a mixture of benzyl cyanide and an alcoholic solution of ammonia is agitated in an atmosphere of hydrogen in the presence of reduced nickel, the reaction being effected at ordinary or elevated temperature and pressure; the product is #-phenylethylamine; (6) a mixture of benzonitrile and finely divided nickel is agitated in an atmosphere of ammonia and hydrogen at a raised pressure and at a temperature of 100‹ C.; the product is benzylamine.