page_title: Nylon 1,6
section_title: Synthesis of nylon 1,6
hierarchical_section_title: Nylon 1,6 / Synthesis of nylon 1,6
caption_attribution_description: English: nylon 1,6 polymer structure
context_page_description: Nylon 1,6 is a type of polyamide or nylon. Unlike most other nylons, nylon 1,6 is not a condensation polymer, but instead is formed by an acid-catalyzed synthesis from adiponitrile, formaldehyde, and water. The material was produced and studied by researchers at DuPont in the 1950s. Synthesis can be performed at room temperature in open beakers.
context_section_description: Nylon 1,6 is synthesized from adiponitrile, formaldehyde, and water via acid catalysis. Adiponitrile and formaldehyde (aqueous, paraformaldehyde, or trioxane) are combined with an acid (typically sulfuric acid) in a reactor.  The reaction can be performed at room temperature.  However, the reaction is exothermic, and especially at high ratios of formaldehyde to adiponitrile, cooling may be required.
  CH₂O + NC-(CH₂)₄-CN + H₂O → [-NH-CH₂-NH-OC-(CH₂)₄-CO-]ₙ
  Addition of water to the reaction mixture readily precipitates the nylon 1,6 product, which can then be isolated and washed with water to afford high purity polymer.
caption: Nylon 1,6
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