3-Amino-propionitrile derivs. prepn. - by reacting amine with acrylonitrile in presence of polar catalyst

摘要

Prepn. of 3-aminopropionitriles of formula R1R2NCH2CH2CN (I) is carried out by reacting 1 mole of an amine of formula R1R2NH (II) with 1 mole of acrylonitrile (III) in the presence of a catalyst comprising a 1-4C alcohol and/or H2O and/or a dialkylcarboxamide. In the formulae, R1 is 1-20C alkyl or alkenyl, cyclohexyl, benzyl or phenylethyl and R2 is H or 1-20C alkyl or alkenyl, or NR1R2 is piperidino, pyrrolidino or morpholino. Catalytic hydrogenation of (I) gives propylene diamine derivs. useful for preparing quaternary fabric softeners and fibre-treating agents. Unlike prior art acid catalysts, the above catalysts do not interfere with the subsequent hydrogenation. The process gives high yields (e.g. 82-98%) at normal pressure.