Production of Nylon Intermediates

During the early years of nylon 66 production, cyclohexane was obtained by distillation from some natural gasolines, together with isomerization of the small volumes of methyl cyclopentane also present. In other parts of the world and as the demand for nylon fibers and resins increased, benzene became the major source of cyclohexane. 

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Aryl and alkyl nitriles (7), in the presence of levulinic acid, hydrogen and a catalyst can be converted to N-alkyl pyrrolidones (Figure 2). Preferred catalysts for this reduction include Ir/Si02, Ru/AbOa and Pd/C. Excellent results are obtained with low cost nitriles such as 2-and 3-pentenenitrile which are intermediates or byproducts in the production of nylon intermediates (Invista) and should be available at very low cost. Aryl nitriles such as benzonitrile can also be used to prepare N-benzyl and N-cyclohexylmethyl pyrrolidones. 

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