Patent ID: 7129362
Filing Date: 2006-10-31
Classification: A61P,C07D

Abstract:
1. A process for preparing a reaction product comprising 5-methyl-N-aryl-2-pyrrolidone (III), 5-methyl-N-cycloalkyl-2-pyrrolidone (IV), or a mixture thereof, which comprises the step of contacting in the liquid phase at a temperature of from about 50° C. to about 300° C. a levulinic acid ester (I) with an aryl amine (II) in the presence of hydrogen gas and a catalyst, the catalyst being optionally supported on a catalyst support, and, optionally, said contacting is performed in the presence of a solvent, and wherein said contacting is carried out at a hydrogen pressure of from about 0.3 MPa to about 20 MPa, and wherein the compound represented by Formula (II) and the compound represented by Formula (I) are in a molar ratio of from about 0.01/1 to about 100/1 at the start of the reaction; wherein R