PURPOSE: To obtain an amine by reducing a nitrile with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst and ammonia while directly recovering the ammonia at low cost in high efficiency to reuse it.
CONSTITUTION: The objective amine of the formula RCH2NH2 can be obtained by reduction of a nitrile of the formula RCN [R is 6-22C alkyl hydroxyalkyl or group of the formula (R1 and R2 are each H, 1-6C alkyl or 2-9C hydroxyalkyl; (m) is 1-6)] with hydrogen in the presence of a reducing catalyst (e.g. Raney nickel) and ammonia at 40-200°C under a hydrogen pressure of 10-30kg/cm2G. In this case, the nitrile is brought into contact with the hydrogen/ammonia mixed gas in the reactional system at the completion of the reaction to effect absorption of the ammonia from the mixed gas into the nitrile, and the resultant ammonia-contg. nitrile is reused as a feedstock nitrile for the reaction. The amine of this invention is useful as a raw material for surfactants, softening agents, dyes, acidic gas scavengers, or polymers.
YOSHIKAWA MAMORU
NAKATANI YOSHITAKA
