Sebacic acid dinitrile

Sebacic acid dinitrile, 50,20 Shikimic acid, 50,27 Silver benzoate, as catalyst in decomposition of diazoketones, 50,... 

If the condenser is short, it is advisable to have a second receiver with a reflux condenser attached, because some dinitrile may be carried through by uncondensed steam. A water-cooled condenser should not be placed ahead of the first receiver, however, since the distillate contains some solid products (sebacic acid and products from urea). 

There are several processing steps involved to form DMDA from sebacic acid [10]. Firstly, sebacic acid is exposed and reacts with a nitrogen source such as gaseous ammonia to form diammonium sebacate. Upon continuous dehydration at elevated temperatures (200-220 °C) the dinitrile octamethylene dicyanide (C10H16N2) is formed which, after purification, is hydrogenated (80-100 °C, 2.5 MPa) in the presence of KOH and a nickel catalyst. Pure DMDA is subsequently obtained through vacuum distillation. 

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