GB458454A - Improvements in the manufacture and production of acylated amines - Google Patents

Abstract

Acylated amines are prepared by the hydrogenation of nitriles in the presence of acid amides, preferably in the liquid phase, at a pressure above atmospheric and/or at a temperature of 50--200 DEG C. and using base metals or their compounds as catalysts. A nitrile R.CN in the presence of an acid amide <FORM:0458454/IV/1> (R representing an organic radicle, X an organic radicle or hydrogen and Y.CO the radicle of a carboxylic acid) thereby gives rise to products R.CH2.NH2 and <FORM:0458454/IV/2> The nitriles specified are the same as those listed in the parent Specification and the same applies to the catalysts. As amides the following are referred to:--formamide, acetamide, N-methylacetanide, N-amylacetamide, butyramide, N-propylbutyramide, caprylic amide, palmitic amide, benzamide, phthalimide and urea. The products may themselves be employed as assistants in the textile and related industries or may be used in the preparation of such assistants or of pharmaceutical preparations. According to the example, lauric nitrile and acetamide are heated in an autoclave at 180 DEG C. under a hydrogen pressure of 200 atmospheres in the presence of a nickel catalyst and N-dodecylacetamide separated from the product. Reference is also made to the production of N-dodecylbenzamide by the hydrogenation of lauric nitrile together with benzamide at 180 DEG C. under a pressure of 100 atmospheres in the presence of a copper-aluminium oxide catalyst. Specifications 255,884, [Class 1 (i)], 356,731, and 421,718 are referred to. The sample furnished under Sect. 2 (5) comprises N-monododecyl-urea prepared by heating lauric nitrile and urea in methanol solution in an autoclave at 70 DEG C. under a hydrogen pressure of 200 atmospheres using a nickelchromium catalyst.