Patent ID: 7612216

Claim:
A process for preparing a reaction product comprising N-alkyl-2-lactam (VI) the process comprising the step of contacting a lactone (I) with an alkyl cyano compound (V), 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; wherein: (i) n=0-11; (ii) R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 and R 6 taken independently are hydrogen, hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl, C 1 to C 18 unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl, unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl containing at least one heteroatom, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, and unsubstituted or substituted heteroaryl; and (iii) R 9 is an alkyl group having from 1 to 30 carbons, and wherein R 9 may be C 1 -C 30 unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, C 1 -C 30 unsubstituted or substituted alkenyl, C 1 -C 30 unsubstituted or substituted alkynyl, C 3 -C 30 unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl, or C 3 -C 30 unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkyl containing at least one heteroatom.