Purification of n-vinylformamide

N-Vinylformamide is purified by fractional distillation in the presence of formamide in a column under from 0.5 to 30 mbar by a method in which the distillation is controlled so that N-vinylformamide containing from 0.1 to 15% by weight of formamide is obtained as the distillate. Homopolymers having particularly high molecular weights can be prepared from the N-vinylformamide purified in this manner.

N-Vinylformamide can be prepared, for example, by the process of German 
Pat. No. 1,224,304, by eliminating hydrogen cyanide from 
formylalaninenitrile of the formula I 
##STR1## 
in the presence of a solid catalyst under reduced pressure at temperatures 
of, preferably, from 450.degree. to 650.degree. C. According to German 
Laid-Open Application DOS No. 2,336,977, N-vinylformamide is also obtained 
by eliminating methanol from N-alpha-methoxyethylformamide of the formula 
##STR2## 
The N-vinylformamide obtained in each case by pyrolysis is distilled under 
reduced pressure. According to Example 9 of German Laid-Open Application 
DOS No. 2,336,977, distillation of the N-vinylformamide is carried out 
under 0.13 mbar and at a boiling point of 41.degree. C. For economic 
reasons, such low pressures are not suitable for distillation on an 
industrial scale. Since N-vinylformamide is thermally very sensitive and 
readily polymerizes, poorer yields are obtained when higher pressures are 
used for the distillation of crude N-vinylformamide. In fact, higher 
pressures during the distillation necessitate higher bottom temperatures, 
which lead to substantial losses of monomer due to polymerization, not 
only in batch distillation but also in continuous distillation. 
Furthermore, the tendency of N-vinylformamide to polymerize cannot be 
adequately suppressed during the distillation even by adding a stabilizer, 
especially at fairly high temperatures. 
N-Vinylformamide is used to prepare polymers which have superior properties 
compared with known assistants, for example in papermaking or the 
flocculation of sludges. This applies in particular to the high molecular 
weight polymers, although these can only be obtained where it is possible 
to use particularly pure N-vinylformamide as a starting material. Even 
very small amounts of impurities in the N-vinylformamide, which are 
difficult to identify analytically, give monomer grades from which it is 
impossible to prepare polymers having particularly high molecular weights, 
for example characterized by a Fikentscher K value higher than 160. For 
example, distillation of crude N-vinylformamide under 0.13 mbar gives only 
unsatisfactory monomer grades. On the other hand, it has been found that 
pure N-vinylformamide tends to undergo popcorn polymerization during 
prolonged distillation. Popcorn polymers of this type are crosslinked and 
therefore insoluble polymers which block the column. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for the 
purification of N-vinylformamide which gives N-vinylformamide in a quality 
which permits the preparation of polymers having particularly high 
molecular weights, which are characterized, for example, by the 
Fikentscher K values, the latter being higher than 160. During the 
distillation, polymerization should be avoided or should not present 
problems. 
We have found that this object is achieved, according to the invention, by 
a process for the purification of N-vinylformamide by fractional 
distillation of N-vinylformamide in a column under reduced pressure, 
wherein the distillation is carried out in the presence of formamide under 
from 0.5 to 30 mbar, measured at the top of the column, and is controlled 
so that N-vinylformamide containing from 0.1 to 15% by weight of formamide 
is obtained as the distillate. The distillation is preferably controlled 
so that from 1 to 6% by weight of formamide remains in the distillate. 
Surprisingly, these formamide concentrations do not present problems in 
the subsequent polymerization of the N-vinylformamide to give polymers 
having particularly high K values, homopolymers of N-vinylformamide having 
a K value greater than 200 (determined by the Fikentscher method in 5% 
strength aqueous sodium chloride solution at 25.degree. C. and at a 
polymer concentration of 0.1% by weight) being obtainable. 
The novel process is primarliy used to purify crude N-vinylformamide which 
is obtained, for example, in the process for the preparation of 
N-vinylformamide described at the outset. It contains, in addition to the 
starting materials used in each case in the pyrolysis, i.e. a compound of 
the formula I or II, larger or smaller amounts of cleavage products from 
the pyrolysis. The novel process may also be used to purify 
N-vinylformamide which has been distilled by another method, in order to 
obtain a monomer from which polymers having particularly high molecular 
weights can be prepared. 
The crude N-vinylformamide is purified by fractional distillation in a 
column under reduced pressure. Because of the thermosensitivity of the 
N-vinylformamide, the fractional distillation has to be carried out under 
reduced pressure. It is effected under from 0.5 to 30, preferably from 1 
to 15, mbar, this being the pressure at the top of the column. An 
important feature of the present invention is that the fractional 
distillation is carried out so that the N-vinylformamide taken off as a 
distillate at the top of the column contains from 0.1 to 15% by weight, 
based on the N-vinylformamide used, of formamide. The crude 
N-vinylformamide used in the distillation contains from 1 to 70% by weight 
of formamide. Formamide is inert to N-vinylformamide and does not present 
problems in the polymerization when present in the purified 
N-vinylformamide in the stated concentrations. Formamide is preferably 
used in the distillation in an amount of from 5 to 50% by weight, based on 
N-vinylformamide. Depending on the crude product and on the requirements 
in respect of the purity of the N-vinylformamide, the number of 
theoretical plates of the particular columns used is from 5 to 40, 
preferably from 10 to 20. The distillation can be carried out batchwise by 
initially taking a solution of N-vinylformamide in formamide in a flask 
and removing the N-vinylformamide together with the small amounts of 
formamide stated above at the top of a column. However, the purification 
is preferably carried out continuously using formamide in such a way that 
a mixture of the N-vinylformamide to be purified and formamide is fed into 
the lower third to about the middle of a column, and N-vinylformamide 
together with, preferably, up to 6% by weight of formamide are separated 
off at the top of the column. In this procedure, a circulation for the 
bottom product is present at the bottom of the column, as is usual in 
distillation procedures. A circulating pump and an evaporator, preferably 
a falling film evaporator, are incorporated in this circulation as 
essential components. The formamide concomitantly used during the 
distillation is removed from the bottom, together with high boiling 
impurities and, where present, small amounts of N-vinylformamide. The 
formamide separated off from the bottom can, if required, be distilled and 
reused. Surprisingly, because formamide is employed, polymerization of the 
N-vinylformamide during distillation is completely or substantially 
avoided. The mixtures obtained as the distillate (N-vinylformamide 
containing from 0.1 to 15% by weight of formamide) can be polymerized in 
an aqueous medium at, preferably, from 30.degree. to 100.degree. C. In the 
presence of a polymerization initiator to give particularly high molecular 
weight poly-N-vinylformamides whose K value is greater than 200, for 
example from 205 to 270. Suitable polymerization processes in an aqueous 
medium are solution polymerization, water-in-oil polymerization and 
reverse suspension polymerization. Preferably, N-vinylformamide which 
contains from 1 to 6% by weight of formamide is polymerized by the 
water-in-oil polymerization method. The higher the K value of the 
homopolymers, the more effective are the products which can be prepared by 
eliminating the formyl group, for example when used as flocculants for 
sludges. 
In the Examples, parts and percentages are by weight. The K values of the 
polymers were determined according to Fikentscher, Cellulose-Chemie, 13 
(1932), 48-64 and 71-74, in 5% strength aqueous sodium chloride solution 
at 25.degree. C. and at a polymer concentration of 0.1% by weight.

EXAMPLE 1 
8.0 kg/hour of a mixture which consists of 60% of N-vinylformamide, 3% of 
components which have higher boiling points than N-vinylformamide and 37% 
of formamide are fed into the lower third of a continuous distillation 
plant which consists of a 4 m long column having a diameter of 150 mm and 
filled with Sulzer BX packing. At the top of the column, a pressure of 10 
mbar is maintained and 2 g/hour of p-phenylenediamine dissolved in 
N-vinylformamide are metered in as a stabilizer. 
With the aid of a circulating pump present at the bottom of the column, 400 
l/hour of the bottom product are circulated under 19 mbar via a falling 
film evaporator heated at 140.degree. C. In steady-state operation, a 
residence time of 1.0 hour and a temperature of 107.degree. C. are 
established at the bottom. 3.1 kg/hour of 92.3% pure formamide containing 
7.7% of high boilers are taken off as bottom product. 4.9 kg/hour of 
N-vinylformamide containing 2% of formamide are distilled off at the top 
of the column at a reflux ratio of 3:1. 
In this procedure, virtually no N-vinylformamide is lost through 
polymerization. The formamide in the discharged bottom product can be 
recycled, if necessary after separating off the high boilers. The 
N-vinylformamide obtained in this manner can be polymerized by a 
water-in-oil emulsion polymerization method (cf. European Pat. No. 71,050) 
to prepare polymers having a K value of 210. 
EXAMPLE 2 
8.0 kg/hour of a mixture of 60% of N-vinylformamide, 35.2% of formamide, 
1.8% of the compound of the formula II and 3.0% of high boilers are fed to 
the column stated in Example 1. Under conditions otherwise identical to 
those described in Example 1, 3.1 kg/hour of a mixture of 87.6% of 
formamide, 4.6% of a compound of the formula II and 7.7% of high boilers 
are taken off as bottom product at 107.degree. C. 4.9 kg of a distillate 
consisting of 98% of N-vinylformamide and 2% of formamide are obtained at 
the top of the column. The purity of the N-vinylformamide achieved 
corresponds to the monomer quality of Example 1. 
EXAMPLE 3 
20.0 kg/hour of a mixture which consists of 61% of N-vinylformamide, 32% of 
formamide, 4.3% of a compound of the formula I and 2.7% of high boilers of 
unknown composition (such mixtures are obtained in the pyrolysis of 
compounds of the formula I) are fed into the lower third of a continuous 
distillation plant which consists of a 4 m long column having a diameter 
of 300 mm and filled with Sulzer BX packing. At the top of the column, a 
pressure of 3 mbar is maintained and 2 g/hour of p-phenylenediamine 
dissolved in N-vinylformamide are metered in as a stabilizer. With the aid 
of a circulating pump present at the bottom of the column, 800 l/hour of 
the bottom product are circulated under 13 mbar via a falling film 
evaporator heated at 140.degree. C. In the steady state, 7.6 kg/hour of a 
mixture of 81.6% of formamide, 11.3% of a compound of the formula I and 
7.1% of high boilers are removed as bottom product at 103.degree. C. 12.4 
kg/hour of a distillate consisting of 98.4% of N-vinylformamide and 1.6% 
of formamide are obtained at the top of the column, at a reflux ratio of 
3:1. 
The N-vinylformamide obtained in this manner can be polymerized by a 
water-in-oil emulsion polymerization procedure (cf. European Patent No. 
71,050) to prepare homopolymers having a high K value if, for example, 
402.3 g of distilled water, 4.99 g of potassium dihydrogen phosphate and 
0.164 g of sodium hydroxide are initially taken in a 2 liter 4-necked 
flask provided with a stirrer, a thermometer, a nitrogen inlet tube and a 
condenser, and a mixture of 339.98 g of a hydrocarbon mixture (mixture of 
84% of saturated aliphatic hydrocarbons and 16% of naphthenic hydrocarbons 
having a boiling range of from 192.degree. to 254.degree. C.) and 39.45 g 
of an emulsifier (reaction product of 1 mole of oleyl glycidyl ether, 1 
mole of glycerol and 2 moles of ethylene oxide, prepared as described in 
German Laid-Open Application DOS No. 2,557,324) is added with stirring and 
213.5 g of the purified N-vinylformamide obtained as described in Example 
3 are then introduced. Nitrogen is then passed through the stirred mixture 
for 1 hour at room temperature, after which the mixture is heated to 
45.degree. C. while stirring at a speed of 300 rpm, and 0.106 g of 
2,2'-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) dissolved in 0.226 g of acetone is 
added. The reaction mixture is then heated to 60.degree. C. while stirring 
continuously, and is polymerized at from 60.degree. to 65.degree. C. in 
the course of about 2 hours. Thereafter, a further 0.106 g of 
2,2'-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) dissolved in 0.226 g of acetone is 
added, and the reaction mixture is kept at 60.degree. C. for a further 2 
hours to continue polymerization. The solids content of the polymer 
emulsion is determined by precipitating the polymer in acetone and is 
found to be 20.4%. The K value of the polymer is 248. 
COMATIVE EXAMPLE 1 
8.0 kg/hour of a mixture of 95% of N-vinylformamide, 2.5% of a compound of 
the formula I and 2.5% of high boilers are metered into the column stated 
in Example 1. A pressure of 10 mbar is maintained at the top of the 
column. 400 l/hour of bottom product are circulated by means of the 
circulating pump. The falling film evaporator must be kept at 170.degree. 
C. 
A reflux ratio of 3:1 is established at the top of the column. Under these 
conditions, 6.35 kg/hour of pure N-vinylformamide can be distilled off. 
Under steady-state conditions, a residence time of 1.9 hours is 
established in the bottom under a pressure of 19 mbar and at 140.degree. 
C. 1.65 kg/hour of bottom product are removed from the bottom. In addition 
to the original 0.2 kg of compound of the formula I and 0.2 kg of high 
boilers, this product contains 1.15 kg of oligomers and polymers of 
N-vinylformamide and 0.1 kg of monomeric N-vinylformamide, corresponding 
to a content of 6%. Hence, 15.1% of the N-vinylformamide originally 
present are lost through polymerization. In addition, a further 1.3% of 
N-vinylformamide out of the amount originally present are removed as 
monomer together with the bottom product. After operation for 28 hours, 
the pressure loss in the column increases as a result of incipient popcorn 
polymerization. After a further 3 hours, the column is blocked by 
polymerization. 
COMATIVE EXAMPLE 2 
8.0 kg of a mixture of 92% of N-vinylformamide, 3% of a compound of the 
formula II and 5% of high boilers are fed to the column, using a procedure 
similar to that described in Comparative Example 1. 6.22 kg/hour of pure 
N-vinylformamide are distilled off at the top of the column. Under 
steady-state conditions, a residence time of 1.7 hours and a temperature 
of 140.degree. C. are established at the bottom. 1.78 kg/hour of bottom 
product are discharged. In addition to the original content of a compound 
of the formula II and high boilers, this product contains 1.1 kg of 
oligomers and polymers as well as 2% by weight of monomeric 
N-vinylformamide. Hence, a total of 15.4% of the N-vinylformamide fed in 
are lost. 
COMATIVE EXAMPLE 3 
Adiabatic heat accumulation test under pressure with N-vinylformamide 
80 g of pure N-vinylformamide are heated to 100.degree. C. in an autoclave 
equipped with a bursting disk. During this procedure, the pressure reaches 
2 bar. To reduce heat losses, the oven temperature is adjusted to the 
product temperature during the exothermic reaction which begins after 
about 1 hour. The product temperature reaches 136.degree. C. after storage 
for 1.5 hours, and 282.degree. C. after a further 10 minutes, the pressure 
increasing to above 50 bar and the bursting disk being triggered. 
The heat accumulation test under pressure shows that N-vinylformamide is 
thermally very sensitive and that there is a danger of explosive 
polymerization on heating.