Patent ID: 6245907
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: C07D

Abstract:
A process for producing a high purity caprolactam, comprising:(a) providing a mixture comprising cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone and methylcyclopentanol, and subjecting the mixture to a separation process capable of fractionating cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, to yield a first fraction comprising cyclohexanol that is substantially free of methylcyclopentanol and a second fraction that comprises cyclohexanone and methylcyclopentanol;(b) treating the first fraction of step (a) to convert a portion of the cyclohexanol into cyclohexanone through dehydrogenation, to yield a mixture of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone that is substantially free of methylcyclopentanone;(c) subjecting the cyclohexanol/cyclohexanone mixture of step (b) to the separation process of step (a) and combining the resultant cyclohexanone-containing fraction with the cyclohexanone-containing fraction of step (a);(d) converting the cyclohexanone-containing fraction of step (c) into cyclohexanone oxime through oximation, such that the methylcyclopentanol contained in the cyclohexanone is not subjected to dehydrogenation or oximation; and(e) converting the cyclohexanone oxime of step (d) into caprolactam through Beckman rearrangement.