GB436692A - Improvements in and relating to the production of aminonitriles - Google Patents

Abstract

Aminonitriles are prepared from oxynitriles by the action of ammonia either as liquid ammonia or as an aqueous or alcoholic solution which contains more ammonia than a solution saturated at atmospheric pressure and a temperature above 0 DEG C., in a closed vessel. A preferred method of obtaining oxyacetonitrile is to act on liquid hydrocyanic acid with an aqueous 40 per cent solution of formal dehyde. With material prepared thus, it is only necessary to saturate with gaseous ammonia at so low a temperature that the ammonia liquifies. The reaction is preferably conducted at room temperature or slightly higher. The removal of excess ammonia after the reaction is over is effected in such a manner that only small quantities at a time are freed from ammonia preferably in a passage apparatus, such as a heated tube. The tube may be kept under vacuum or a current of moderately heated air passed through the apparatus. In examples (1) 375 grams of ammonia at -30 DEG C., are mixed with 125 grams alcohol and 255 grams of 90 per cent oxyaceto-nitrile added, and allowed to stand 36 hours at room temperature. If the hydrochloride of glycerine ether is to be prepared, the solution of amino-acetonitrile after removal of ammonia is passed into strong alcoholic hydrochloric acid. (2) an ammoniacal solution of lucine nitrile is obtained by the reaction of oxy-iso-caproic nitrile with liquid ammonia in an autoclave. The ammonia is then removed in a through flow apparatus. A description of the passage apparatus used to remove excess ammonia is given.