Patent ID: 6011153
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: C07D

Abstract:
Process for the preparation of a mixture of .epsilon.-caprolactam, 6-aminocaproic acid and 6-aminocaproic amide by heating an aqueous mixture containing ammonia, 6-aminocaproic amide and lineair and/or cyclic oligomers of 6-aminocaproic acid and/or of 6-aminocaproic amide and optionally 6-aminocaproic acid and/or .epsilon.-caprolactam, characterised in that the aqueous mixture contains 0.5-7 wt. % of equivalent ammonia (calculated as NH.sub.3), 1-20 wt. % of the oligomers, 5-40 wt. % 6-aminocaproic amide, that the concentration of the oligomers and 6-aminocaproic amide and optionally 6-aminocaproic acid and/or .epsilon.-caprolactam in the aqueous mixture is between 10 and 40 wt. % and that the temperature is between 280.degree. C. and 330.degree. C., in which by ""equivalent ammonia"" is meant free ammonia and ammonia present in the form of a terminal amide group of one of the compounds present in the aqueous mixture.