Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07D313/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing rings of more than six members having one oxygen atom as the only ring hetero atom
  • C07D313/02—Seven-membered rings
  • C07D313/04—Seven-membered rings not condensed with other rings
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07C29/00—Preparation of compounds having hydroxy or O-metal groups bound to a carbon atom not belonging to a six-membered aromatic ring
  • C07C29/132—Preparation of compounds having hydroxy or O-metal groups bound to a carbon atom not belonging to a six-membered aromatic ring by reduction of an oxygen containing functional group
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07D201/00—Preparation, separation, purification or stabilisation of unsubstituted lactams
  • C07D201/02—Preparation of lactams
  • C07D201/08—Preparation of lactams from carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof, e.g. hydroxy carboxylic acids, lactones or nitriles
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
  • Y02P20/00—Technologies relating to chemical industry
  • Y02P20/50—Improvements relating to the production of bulk chemicals
  • Y02P20/52—Improvements relating to the production of bulk chemicals using catalysts, e.g. selective catalysts

Definitions

• caprolactone Preparation of caprolactone, caprolactam, 2,5-tetrahydrofuran-dimethanol, 1,6- hexanediol or 1,2,6-hexanetriol from 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfuraldehyde
• the invention relates to a method for preparing epsilon-caprolactone (hereinafter referred to as: caprolactone).
• the invention further relates to a method for preparing epsilon-caprolactam (hereinafter referred to as: caprolactam) from caprolactone.
• Caprolactone is amongst others a useful product to prepare caprolactam from. It is also used as a raw material for the preparation of polyesters and resins. Caprolactam is a much used monomer for the preparation of polyamide.
• caprolactone and caprolactam are generally obtained from starting compounds that are obtained from mineral oil, such as benzene or toluene.
• mineral oil such as benzene or toluene.
• caprolactone or caprolactam is prepared from a compound that can be obtained from a biologically renewable source.
• caprolactam from a biochemically obtained intermediate, making use of genetically modified micro-organisms that are capable of converting a biologically renewable starting material (such as a sugar) into the intermediate.
• E.g. WO 2005/068643 describes the preparation of 6-aminocaproic acid by a genetically modified micro-organism. The 6-aminocaproic acid can thereafter be converted into caprolactam.
• the titres of the obtained 6-aminocaproic acid and/or caprolactam in the Examples are low: in the order of ppm's, indicating that the reaction proceeds relatively slow, which is undesirable when operating at an industrial scale.
• WO2005/123669 relates to the production of caprolactam by heating a salt of L-lysine in a solvent comprising an alcohol.
• the lysine may be obtained from biomass.
• the current production process of lysine from biomass produces lysine at a price which is higher than the market price of caprolactam.
• the process uses expensive sulfonated hydroxylamine. Thereby this process is not really interesting for industrial use, in practice.
• the production of sulfonated hydroxylamine is thought to be relatively energy-intensive.
• caprolactone or caprolactam from a starting compound that can be obtained from a biologically renewable source which does not require the use of a micro-organism.
• known processes making use of a microorganism have a low conversion rate.
• the final concentration of the product of interest is generally low. Therefore, it is contemplated a process based on a microorganism is not likely to produce caprolactone and caprolactam at competitive prices (at least not in the near future, because of the generally slow fermentation process and the low product concentration obtained in such a process.
• the isolation of the product of interest from the culture medium comprising the micro-organism used for the preparation of the product is generally relatively complex. Further, upscaling to a high-capacity plant and/or reducing reaction times may be an issue. Furthermore, there may be legal issues or consumer acceptance issues with respect to making use of genetically modified organisms that could frustrate implementation of the microbiological product of an intermediate for caprolactone or caprolactam on an industrial scale. Finally, fermentative processes may produce considerable waste streams (cell mass, growth medium) which will evoke considerable effort with respect to its disposal in an acceptable manner.
• caprolactone caprolactam
• 2,5-tetrahydrofuran-dimethanol 1,6-hexanediol or 1,2,6-hexanetriol
• HMF 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfuraldehyde
• the present invention relates to a method for preparing caprolactone, comprising converting 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfuraldehyde by
• the present invention relates to a method for preparing 1,2,6-hexanetriol, comprising preparing 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfuraldehydefrom a renewable source, converting 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfuraldehyde into 2,5- tetrahydrofuran-dimethanol and converting 2,5-tetrahydrofuran-dimethanol into 1,2,6-hexanetriol.
• the present invention relates to a for preparing 1,6-hexanediol, comprising preparing 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfuraldehydefrom a renewable source, converting 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfuraldehyde into 2,5-tetrahydrofuran-dimethanol and converting 2,5-tetrahydrofuran-dimethanol into 1,6-hexanediol.
• the invention relates to a method for preparing 1,6-hexanediol from 1,2,6-hexanetriol, wherein 1,2,6-hexanetriol is subjected to a ring closure reaction, thereby forming (tetrahydro-_?H-pyran-2-yl)methanol also abbreviated as 2- ⁇ ), and the (tetrahydro-_?H-pyran-2-yl)methanol 1 is hydrogenated, thereby forming 1,6-hexane diol.
• the present invention relates to a method for preparing caprolactam comprising reacting caprolactone prepared in a method according to the invention.
• the invention is in particular advantageous in that the methods of the invention can readily be carried out on a large scale, because the HMF can be prepared from an abundant renewable source, such as fructose, and because the methods can be carried out without using a micro-organism to prepare the HMF from the renewable source and without using a micro-organism to prepare caprolactone, caprolactam, 2,5-tetrahydrofuran-dimethanol, 1,6-hexanediol or 1,2,6-hexanetriol from HMF.
• an abundant renewable source such as fructose
• Percentages are weight percentages based on total weight, unless specified otherwise.
• the term 'renewable source' is used herein in particular for materials that can be naturally replenished from living organisms.
• Fossil materials that have been transformed by geological processes, such as coal, oil or the like are not renewable sources. More in particular, renewable sources include biomass which may be obtained from living material (e.g. plant matter, or components isolated there from such as lignocellulose, cellulose, starch, or glucose).
• a preferred source of biomass is agricultural waste (agro waste), which is formed by parts of agricultural crops that are not used for animal or human consumption. Normally it would be composted, largely to CO2.
• the HMF may in principle be obtained in any way, in particular from any renewable source.
• the HMF has been prepared from a carbohydrate.
• the carbohydrate may in particular be selected from the group of fructose, glucose, sucrose, starch, cellulose and lignocellulose, including mixtures of any two or more of these, e.g. a mixture comprising glucose and fructose.
• HMF can be prepared from fructose by an acid-catalysed dehydration reaction. This may be accomplished in a manner known per se, for instance in aqueous/organic mixtures, catalysed by sulphuric acid as described by Dumesic and co-workers (Nature 2007, 447, 982-985) or in DMSO catalysed by LaC (Ishida and coworkers, Chemistry Letters 2000, 22-23). Another method is described in Joseph B. Binder, and Ronald T. Raines, J. Am. Chem. Soc , 2009, 131 (5), 1979-1985.
• the glucose may first be converted into fructose, e.g. in a manner known per se.
• a product comprising glucose such as corn syrup or another starch product
• the liquified product is enzymatically converted into glucose using a glucoamylase
• the product treated with glucoamylase is treated with glucose isomerase to give a mixture of fructose and glucose.
• This mixture can be separated, e.g. by simulated moving bed (SMB) to give what is called High
• HFCS90 Fructose Cornstarch Syrup
• corn syrup This typically contains about 90 wt. % of fructose, based on dry weight. Of course, other syrups providing fructose may be used.
• HFCS90 is a preferred raw material for the production of HMF.
• the conversion of HMF into 1,6-hexanediol may be done in any way.
• HMF is hydrogenated, thereby forming 2,5-tetrahydrofuran-dimethanol (THFDM), and thereafter THFDM is hydrogenated, thereby forming 1,6-hexanediol.
• THFDM 2,5-tetrahydrofuran-dimethanol
• the 1,6-hexanediol can thereafter be converted into caprolactone.
• This dual hydrogenation pathway is advantageous for a number of reasons. First of all the hydrogenolysis of the ether linkage needs high temperatures and high pressures. Under these conditions, undesired decarbonylation of HMF can be quite rapid. Therefore, it is preferred to first hydrogenate the aldehyde function to an alcohol and concomitantly the two double bonds of the furan under mild conditions to the THF-dimethanol before embarking on the hydrogenolysis of the two ether bonds that take place at higher temperatures.
• An advantage is that the first hydrogenation step can be performed with (cheap) Raney nickel. Potential impurities that are present in the HMF can be absorbed on this cheap catalyst before the process stream reaches the second, generally more expensive catalyst, thereby prolonging life- time of the second catalyst.
• the hydrogenation of HMF to THFDM may be accomplished in a manner known per se, for instance as described by Schiavo et al. in J. Bulletin de la Societe Chimique de France (1991), p 704- 11.
• the hydrogenation of HMF to THFDM is usually carried out in the presence of hydrogen gas and a hydrogenation catalyst.
• a suitable hydrogenation catalyst may in particular be selected from the group of nickel catalysts, such as Raney nickel, or nickel nanoparticles, either in solution or on a carrier material, palladium, (e.g.
• Nickel catalysts are preferred. Especially preferred is the use of Raney nickel or the use of nickel nanoparticles. It is also possible to use mixtures of catalysts.
• the ratio (W/W) of catalyst to HMF preferably is in the range of 1:1 to 1: 1000 more preferred ratios are in the range of 1:2 to 1:100
• the term 'nanoparticles' means particles of a solid or semisolid material having a weight average diameter, as determinable by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) or transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in the range of 1- 1000 nm, in particular in the range of 5-500 nm.
• the hydrogenation may conveniently be carried out in a flow reactor, such as a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) or a tube reactor.
• CSTR continuous stirred tank reactor
• the hydrogenation is preferably carried out in a solvent.
• Protic solvents or water are preferred solvents.
• Ethanol and propanol are particularly preferred solvents.
• the molar ratio hydrogen gas to HMF is in general at least stoichiometric. Preferably an excess hydrogen gas is used. In particular, the molar ratio may be in the range of 10 to 2000.
• the hydrogen pressure preferably is between 1 and 12 MPa (10 and 120 bar) a more preferred range is 5-10 MPa (50- 100 bar).
• the temperature during the hydrogenation of HMF is usually chosen in the range of 50-250 °C, in particular in the range of 60-150 °C; preferred is a temperature in the range of 70-110 °C.
• the hydrogenation of THFDM to 1,6-hexanediol may be accomplished in a manner known per se, for instance as described in US 3,070,633, of which the contents are incorporated herein by reference.
• the hydrogenation of THFDM may be carried out with hydrogen gas in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst.
• a suitable hydrogenation catalyst may in particular be selected from the group of copper based catalysts, more in particular copper catalysts in which at least one further metal- element is present.
• the metal- element needs not be in a metallic state.
• copper catalyst including at least one further metal element are copper chromite and copper zinc.
• catalysts that can be used include on rhodium on a solid support, such as rhodium on silica.
• the rhodium catalyst may be doped with one or more other elements.
• a preferred dopant is rhenium.
• the hydrogenation of THFDM may be carried out in a conventional hydrogenation reactor, in particular in a CSTR or a tube reactor.
• the hydrogenation of THFDM may be carried out in an inert solvent (e.g. an inert alcohol, such as methanol, ethanol or 1-propanol, a cycloalkane, such as cyclohexane, or in dimethoxymethane) or in the absence of an inert solvent.
• an inert solvent e.g. an inert alcohol, such as methanol, ethanol or 1-propanol, a cycloalkane, such as cyclohexane, or in dimethoxymethane
• the molar ratio hydrogen gas to THFDM is in general at least
• the molar ratio may be in the range of 10 to 2000.
• the temperature during the hydrogenation of THFDM is usually chosen in the range of 80-350 °C, in particular in the range of 120-330 °C.
• a preferred temperature used may depend on the type of catalyst used.
• a preferred range for use with copper chromite is from 250-320 °C.
• a preferred range for use with a Rh/Re catalyst is 120-250 °C.
• the hydrogen pressure during the hydrogenation of THFDM is usually chosen in the range of 5-20 MPa (50-200 bar); a preferred hydrogen pressure is between 8- 12 MPa (80- 120 bar).
• the substrate to catalyst ratio(w/w) is usually chosen betweenl: l and 500: 1; a preferred range is from 4: 1 to 50: 1.
• the first and the second hydrogenation step are directly coupled in the sense that the hydrogenation of HMF and the hydrogenation of the product of the HMF hydrogenation reaction are carried out in the same reactor, or in the sense that the product of the HMF hydrogenation reaction is continuously fed from a first reactor into a second reactor or from a first reaction zone inside a reactor (wherein the first hydrogenation reaction is carried out) into a second reaction zone inside that reactor (wherein the second hydrogenation step is carried out).
• the product of the HMF hydrogenation reaction may be directly fed from the first reactor or first reaction zone into the second reactor or first reaction zone.
• 'directly fed' in particular means fed without intermediate storage of the product, without intermediate chemical reaction steps, and without intermediate purification steps.
• the second hydrogenation preferably takes place at higher temperature than the first hydrogenation. Accordingly, if desired, the feed may be heated when being transferred from the first to the second hydrogenation step. The product then can be converted into caprolactone.
• THFDM is hydrogenated to 1,2,6-hexanetriol or 1,6-hexanediol, which then can be converted into caprolactone, if desired.
• Various catalysts can be used for this hydrogenation such as those based on palladium, nickel, rhodium, ruthenium, molybdenum, copper and chromium or mixtures thereof.
• Rhodium is a preferred metal.
• These catalysts may be deposited on a carrier material, such as silica, alumina or titanium oxide. In particular good results have been achieved with silica and titanium oxide. More in particular, good results were observed with G-6 3 silica from Fuji.
• the catalysts may also be doped with other elements such as rhenium, molybdenum and tungsten.
• a preferred catalyst is a rhodium-rhenium catalyst, in particular a rhodium-rhenium catalyst on silica. Much preferred is a Rh/Re catalyst on G-6 3 silica from Fuji.
• the molar ratio of hydrogenation catalyst (such as rhodium) to dopant (such as rhenium) may be chosen within wide ranges, in particular in the range of 100: 1 to 1:100. Preferably said ratio is in the range of 10:1 to 1:10; even more preferred is a ratio between 1:2 and 2:1.
• Preferred temperatures are between 80-160 °C, more preferred between 100-140 °C.
• Pressures may in particular be between 4 and 14 MPa, (between 40 and 140 bar) preferably between 6 and 10 MPa (between 60 and 100 bar).
• the hydrogenation is preferably carried out in a solvent.
• Protic solvents or water are preferred solvents.
• Ethanol and propanol are more preferred solvents.
• the 1,2,6-hexanetriol may be further hydrogenated to 1,6-hexanediol using a catalyst based on palladium, nickel, rhodium, ruthenium, copper and chromium or mixtures thereof.
• a catalyst based on palladium, nickel, rhodium, ruthenium, copper and chromium or mixtures thereof.
• These catalysts may be deposited on a carrier material, for example silica. They may also be doped with one or more other elements, such as rhenium.
• a preferred catalyst is based on copper chromite.
• the hydrogenation of 1,2,6-hexanetriol may be carried out in a conventional hydrogenation reactor, in particular in a CSTR or a flow reactor.
• the hydrogenation of 1,2,6-hexanetriol may be carried out in an inert solvent (e.g. an inert alcohol, such as methanol, ethanol or 1-propanol, a cycloalkane, such as cyclohexane, or in dimethoxymethane) or in the absence of a solvent.
• an inert solvent e.g. an inert alcohol, such as methanol, ethanol or 1-propanol, a cycloalkane, such as cyclohexane, or in dimethoxymethane
• the molar ratio hydrogen gas to 1,2,6-hexanetriol is in general at least stoichiometric. Preferably an excess hydrogen gas is used. In particular, the molar ratio may be in the range of 10 to 2000.
• the temperature during the hydrogenation of 1,2,6-hexanetriol is usually chosen in the range of 150-350 °C.
• the temperature used may depend on the type of catalyst used.
• a preferred range for use with copper chromite is from 250-320 °C.
• the hydrogen pressure during the hydrogenation of 1,2,6-hexanetriol is usually chosen in the range of 5-20 MPa (50-200 bar), preferably in the range of 8- 12 MPa (80- 120 bar).
• the substrate to catalyst ratio (w/w) usually is chosen in the range of 1: 1 to 500: 1; a preferred range is from 4: 1 to 50: 1.
• HMF is directly converted into 1,6- hexanediol or 1,2,6-hexanetriol.
• HMF may be hydrogenated with hydrogen in the presence of copper chromite as a hydrogenation catalyst, thereby producing 1,6 hexanediol or 1,2,6-hexanetriol.
• Suitable reaction conditions may e.g. be based on US 3,083,236 on which the contents are incorporated by reference, in particular Example IV(a).
• any of the hydrogenations in accordance with the invention may be carried out in the presence of CO (or a precursor for CO).
• a precursor for CO is a compound that under the hydrogenation conditions reacts to form CO.
• Precursors can in particular be selected from formic acid and formic acid esters.
• the amount of CO (or precursor for CO) relatively to hydrogen may in particular be in the range of 0.01- 1, preferably in the range of 0.01 and 0.1 (mole to mole).
• the invention also relates to a method for preparing 1,6-hexanediol from 1,2,6-hexanetriol, wherein 1,2,6-hexanetriol is subjected to a ring closure reaction, thereby forming (tetrahydro-_?H-pyran-2-yl)methanol, and the (tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)methanol is hydrogenated, thereby forming 1,6-hexane diol.
• An advantage of such method is its high selectivity.
• the 1,2,6-hexanetriol may in principle be obtained in any way.
• it is made from THFDM, as described elsewhere in the present disclosure. Thereby, this method of preparing 1,6- hexanediol makes it possible to prepare 1,6-hexanediol from THFDM with a high overall selectivity.
• the ring-closure reaction is conveniently catalysed by an acidic catalyst.
• This may be a solid acid catalyst, such as an acidic zeolite or a silica alumina catalyst or sulphated zirconia or an acidic ion exchange material, in particular an acidic ion exchange resin.
• a solid acid catalyst such as an acidic zeolite or a silica alumina catalyst or sulphated zirconia
• an acidic ion exchange material in particular an acidic ion exchange resin.
• a suitable zeolite may in particular be selected from the group of ZSM-5 zeolites (silica) and beta-zeolites.
• the acidic ion exchange material may in particular be selected from the group of materials having sulfonate groups as functional groups.
• SmopexlOl® sulfonated styrene divinylbenzene copolymers, such as AmberlystTM, or a sulfonated fluoropolymer, such as Nafion (e.g. Nafion SAC- 13).
• the acidic catalyst is a soluble acid, such as an aromatic or aliphatic carboxylic acid, such as acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid or benzoic acid or an aliphatic or an aromatic sulfonic acid, such as
• methylsulfonic acid or trifluoromethylsulfonic acid or para-toluenesulfonic acid or it may be an aliphatic or an aromatic phosphonic acid such as benzene phosphonic acid. It may also be a mineral acid, such as sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid. In practice strong acids such as triflurosulfonic acid are preferred.
• the ring-closure reaction can be carried out without a solvent; however use of a solvent is preferred, as it leads to higher selectivities.
• a solvent any solvent that is acid stable at the reaction temperature and in which the substrate is soluble may be used.
• Sulfolane is a preferred solvent.
• the reaction is conveniently carried out at elevated temperatures, in particular at a temperature of at least 50 °C.
• the reaction takes place using gaseous reagents and a solid acid catalyst, preferably at a temperature of 200°C or more.
• the reaction takes place in the liquid phase, preferably at a temperature between 50 and 200 °C, more preferably at a temperature between 100 and 150 °C.
• the hydrogenation of (tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)methanol to form 1,6- hexanediol may in principle be based on the hydrogenation conditions for
• rhodium-rhenium on silica catalyst may in particular be in the range of 100: 1 to 1:100; preferably between 10:1 and 1:10; more preferred is a ratio between 1:2 and 2: 1.
• 1,2,6- hexanetriol is formed by hydrogenating 5-tetrahydrofuran-dimethanol, which may have been obtained from a renewable source, converting 1,2,6-hexanetriol, thus obtained, into (tetra-hydro-2H-pyran-2yl) methanol (2-THPM), and converting 2- THPM, thus obtained into 1,6-hexanediol.
• This method offers in particular a good selectivity and yield towards 1,2,6-hexanetriol and 1,6-hexanediol (an overall selectivity of at least 95 % at 57 % THFDM conversion has been found feasible, or an overall selectivity of at least 86 % at complete THFDM conversion).
• the method may be carried out at an incomplete conversion of
• 1,2,6-hexanetriol to 1,6-hexanediol.
• the 1,6-hexanediol can be recovered from the product obtained from the reaction, which product then comprises both 1,2,6- hexanetriol and 1,6-hexanediol, and the 1,2,6-hexanetriol is then recycled to the reaction, if desired.
• the recovery of , 1,6-hexanediol can be accomplished in a manner known per se.
• a hydrogenation catalyst is a rhodium-rhenium catalyst, in particular a rhodium-rhenium catalyst on silica.
• a preferred ring closure catalyst is an acidic ion exchange material, in particular an acidic ion exchange resin or other ion exchange material having sulfonate groups as functional groups. Particularly preferred is a sulfonated fluoropolymer, such as Nafion.
• a preferred catalyst is Rh/Re on Nafion SAC- 13.
• the 1,6-hexanediol thus obtained may thereafter be used for the preparation of caprolactone in accordance with the invention, or used for another purpose.
• caprolactone from 1,6-hexanediol may be accomplished in any way.
• the preparation of caprolactone from 1,6-hexanediol is a so-called lactonisation of a diol.
• Such processes have been known in the art for over 40 years.
• For this conversion it is possible to use at least one catalyst selected from the group of homogeneous metal catalysts and heterogeneous metal catalysts.
• heterogeneous catalysts are suitable for this process.
• Catalysts may be based on ruthenium, osmium, rhodium, iridium, palladium, platinum, copper, cobalt, vanadium nickel or iron. These metals may be entered as catalysts in an oxidised form or in a reduced form.
• the heterogeneous catalyst will be supported on a carrier material. Examples of suitable carrier materials include silica, alumina, active carbon, and barium sulphate.
• caprolactone may be prepared in a method comprising mixing (vaporised) 1,6-hexanediol) with hydrogen, contacting the mixture with a catalyst, such as copper oxide, and recovering the formed caprolactone.
• a catalyst such as copper oxide
• Such conversion may be based on a method described in US 3,317,563 (published in 1967), of which the contents, in particular the conditions specified in claims 1-6 and in the examples, are incorporated by reference.
• caprolactone may be prepared from 1,6-hexanediol, using silver carbonate, e.g. on celite. Suitable conditions may be based on Tetrahedron (1975), 31(2), 171-6, of which the contents are incorporated by reference. Further, caprolactone may be prepared by treating 1,6-hexanediol with oxygen or a gas comprising oxygen (e.g. in air) in the presence of a transition metal catalyst; suitable examples are gold, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, iridium, platinum or a palladium catalyst.
• the catalysts may be in the form of a homogeneous catalyst, containing ligands or they may be a heterogeneous catalyst on a carrier, such as silica, alumina or carbon, or they maybe in the from of nanoparticles. Suitable conditions may for instance be based on JP 55 024 107, JP 61 048 509 or JP
• caprolactone may be prepared by oxidative lactonisation of 1,6- hexanediol with sodium bromite, e.g. based on a method described in Chemistry Letters (1983), (7), 1097- 100 or in JP 59 025 383, of which the contents are
• caprolactone may be prepared from 1,6-hexanediol in the presence of Preyssler's anion as a catalyst using hydrogen peroxide as oxidant.
• Suitable conditions may be based on Bamoharram et al., Journal of Molecular
• the conversion of 1,6-hexanediol into caprolactone is carried out in the presence of a homogenous transition metal catalyst that is active as a redox catalyst.
• a homogenous transition metal catalyst that is active as transfer hydrogenation catalyst or as racemisation catalyst is suitable.
• any catalyst that is active as transfer hydrogenation catalyst or as racemisation catalyst is suitable.
• Many review articles and book chapters have been written about these catalysts, such as G. Zassinovich, G, Mestroni , S. Gladiali, Chemical Reviews, 1992, 92, 1051- 1069 . D. Klomp, U.
• the homogeneous catalyst for converting the 1,6-hexanediol into caprolactone will be in the form of a complex.
• they may comprise one or more ligands selected from the group of phosphorus based ligands, alkoxides, amines, arenes, CO, substituted
• cyclopentadienes unsubstituted cyclopentadienes; cyclometallatable CN ligands (i.e. ligands that bind via an anionic carbon atom and a neutral or anionic nitrogen atom that are linked together), CP ligands (i.e. ligands that bind via an anionic carbon atom and a neutral or anionic phosphorus atom that are linked together), CNN ligands (i.e. ligands that bind via an anionic carbon atom and two nitrogen groups that are linked together), CPP ligands (i.e. ligands that bind via one anionic carbon atom and two phosphorus atoms selected from the group of neutral phosphorus atoms and anionic phosphorus atoms that are linked together) and other cyclometallatable ligands.
• CN ligands i.e. ligands that bind via an anionic carbon atom and a neutral or anionic nitrogen atom that are linked
• Phosphorus based ligands include monodentate phosphines, bidentate phosphines, phosphites, phosphonites, phosphinites and phosphoramidites.
• Amines include amines having more than one amine per molecule, e.g. diamines.
• Examples of amines that can be used as ligands include pyridine, bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline.
• Cyclometallatable CN ligands include benzylamine, iV-methyl-benzylamine N,N- dimethyl-benzylamine.
• CP ligands include tris-ortho-tolyl-phosphine.
• CNN ligands include 1,3- dimethylaminomethylbenzene.
• CPP ligands include l,3-bis-(diphenylphopshinomethyl)benzene.
• a ligand can further be selected from solvent molecules having ligand properties, such as tetrahydrofuran (THF) or acetonitrile.
• THF tetrahydrofuran
• the complex of ligand(s) and metal may also have one or more anions selected from the group of halides, carboxylates and non-coordinating anions, such as BF4 " or PFe " .
• the molar ratio of substrate to catalyst may in particular be between 1 and 1 000 000. Preferred is a molar ratio in the range of 100-200 000.
• the base can be a mineral base, for instance a mineral base selected from the group of KOH, NaOH, KHCO3, K2CO3, Na 2 C0 3 , Cs 2 C0 3 and NaHCOe ,or it can be an organic base, for instance triethylamine, tributylamine or DABCO (1,4 diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane).
• the molar ratio of the catalyst to the base may vary considerably and may also be dependent on the catalyst employed. In general said molar ratio will be in the range of from 1:1 to 1: 100 000; preferably from 1:5 to 1:100.
• the lactonisation may be carried out as a dehydrogenation in which hydrogen is formed as side product.
• This hydrogen is optionally used for the hydrogenation of HMF to 1,6-hexanediol or of THFDM to 1,6-hexanediol or of 1,2,6- hexanetriol to 1,6-hexanediol.
• Suitable hydrogen acceptors include ketones, such as acetone, or methyl isobutylketone (MIBK) or alkenes such as isobutene.
• the resulting alcohols may be used as such or may be dehydrogenated to regenerate the ketone and an equivalent of hydrogen.
• the lactonisation may also be carried out in the presence of an oxidant such as oxygen or hydrogen peroxide.
• the lactonisation may be carried out without a solvent or in the presence of a suitable solvent that is inert to the reaction conditions, such as a hydrocarbon or a halogenated hydrocarbon. It is also possible to use a ketone which participates in the reaction as a hydrogen acceptor as solvent.
• a phase transfer catalyst PTC is preferably selected from the group of quaternary
• ammonium salts in particular from the group of tetraalkylammonium salts, and polyalkylene glycols, in particular polyethylene glycols.
• the alkyl group will generally comprise 1 to 20 carbon atoms.
• the counter ion may be a halide, such as chloride or bromide, or HSC or acetate or tosylate. In general the choice of the anion is not critical. Examples of suitable PTC's are tetrabutylammonium bromide or
• the amount of PTC with respect to the amount of substrate is between 0.01-50 mol%; more preferred is between 1-25 mol%.
• the temperature of the reaction may vary between 50-200 °C; more preferred between 80-150 °C.
• Caprolactam can be prepared from caprolactone in a manner known per se.
• caprolactam is prepared in a method comprising reacting caprolactone with ammonia.
• Suitable processes are e.g. described in US 3,000,880, US 3,025,306 and US 3,064,008, of which the contents are incorporated by reference, in particular the contents dealing with the reaction conditions for preparing caprolactam from caprolactone. The invention will now be illustrated by the following examples.
• Raney nickel (Ra-Ni) is a very good catalyst for this conversion.
• Examples 11-15 show the effect of the temperature on the hydrogenation of HMF with Raney nickel at 9 MPa in methanol.
• Rh/Re catalyst for use in Examples 23-32
• Silica was precalcined at 773K for 3h prior to impregnation unless otherwise mentioned. Two grams of silica were stirred with an aqueous solution of 176 mg of RhC during 2 hours. Thereafter the water was filtered off and the remaining solid dried at 383K for 13-14h. Next, the solid was impregnated with an aqueous solution of 113 mg of NtUReCU, after filtration and drying as before the final step was calcination in air at 773K for 3h.
• the catalyst was measured to have a Rh-content of 4 wt-% and a Re- content of 2 wt%.
• carrier materials other than silica such as
• catalysts were also prepared that were only impregnated with Rh (tested in Example 25) or with Re (tested in Example 26) according to the procedure described above. Results with all four types of catalysts can be found in Table 5.
• the reaction was performed in a 100 mL three-neck round bottom flask. 1,2,6-hexanetriol (3.3543 g, 25.0 mmol) was dissolved in sulfolane (25 mL). Then, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid ( 13.3 ⁇ L, 0.15 mmol,) were added. The reaction mixture was heated to 125 °C for 30 mins. GC shows full conversion with 100% selectivity to the desired product.
• Example 50-62 preparation of 1,6 hexanediol from THFDM (via 1,2,6-HT and 2- THPM) 1,6 hexanediol was prepared from THFDM using the following reactions in a single pot..
• the pressure was 1 MPa for the first hour and thereafter 8 MPa for the remaining 19 hours.
• Example acidic catalyst t 2 (h) %-conv %-sel to 1 ,6 %-sel to 1,5 %-sel to 1,2,6 hexanediol hexanediol hexanetriol

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