SYNTHESIS OF CAPROLACTAM FROM MUCONIC ACID AND OTHER BIO-DERIVED SUBSTRATES
Disclosed herein are methods and compositions of matter and processes for synthesizing caprolactam for nylon-6 production form muconic and adipic acids. A transition metal catalyst (typically ruthenium) on an acidic support (typically niobia) was synthesized to catalyze the amidation and cyclization to caprolactam.
1 . A method for synthesizing caprolactam from muconic acid comprising using a transition metal catalyst on an acidic support to catalyze the amidation and cyclization of muconic acid to caprolactam.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the caprolactam is used for synthesizing nylon-6.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the transition metal catalyst comprises ruthenium.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the acidic support comprises niobia.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the caprolactam is produced at greater than 55 mol percent from the muconic acid.
6 . A method for synthesizing caprolactam from adipic acid comprising using a transition metal catalyst on an acidic support to catalyze the amidation and cyclization of the adipic acid to caprolactam.
7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the caprolactam is used for synthesizing nylon-6.
8 . The method of claim 6 wherein the transition metal catalyst comprises ruthenium.
9 . The method of claim 6 wherein the acidic support comprises niobia.
10 . The method of claim 6 wherein the caprolactam is produced at greater than 55 mol percent from the adipic acid.
11 . A process for synthesizing caprolactam from muconic acid comprising using a transition metal catalyst on an acidic support to catalyze the amidation and cyclization of muconic acid to caprolactam.
12 . The process of claim 11 wherein the caprolactam is used for synthesizing nylon-6.
13 . The process of claim 11 wherein the transition metal catalyst comprises ruthenium.
14 . The process of claim 11 wherein the acidic support comprises niobia.
15 . The process of claim 11 wherein the caprolactam is produced at greater than 55 mol percent from the muconic acid.
16 . A process for synthesizing caprolactam from adipic acid comprising using a transition metal catalyst on an acidic support to catalyze the amidation and cyclization of the adipic acid to caprolactam.
17 . The process of claim 16 wherein the caprolactam is used for synthesizing nylon-6.
18 . The process of claim 16 wherein the transition metal catalyst comprises ruthenium.
19 . The process of claim 16 wherein the acidic support comprises niobia.
20 . The process of claim 16 wherein the caprolactam is produced at greater than 55 mol percent from the adipic acid.