Process for the production of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone by vinylation

摘要

A single stage process, with recirculation of reactants, is provided herein for making N-vinylpyrrolidone or N-vinyl caprolactam at a high reaction rate and selectivity and at a predetermined conversion per pass. In this process a reaction mixture is formed by saturating a non-aqueous, liquid mixture of recirculating lactam, vinyl lactam and catalyst with acetylene at low temperatures and pressures to provide a high concentration of acetylene in the liquid, pumping the saturated solution into a reactor, reacting the mixture as a single liquid phase, cooling the reaction product, withdrawing a portion of the cooled product, recirculating the rest into the reaction mixture, and continuously feeding additional lactam and catalyst therein.