Patent ID: 7977502

Claim:
An integrated, continuous process for the production of 3-pentenenitrile, the refining of 3-pentenenitrile, and the refining of 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile, the process comprising: (a) contacting, in a reaction zone, a hydrogen cyanide-containing feed, a 1,3-butadiene-containing feed, and a catalyst composition, wherein the catalyst composition comprises a zero-valent nickel and at least one bidentate phosphorus-containing ligand selected from the group consisting of a phosphite, a phosphonite, a phosphinite, a phosphine, a mixed phosphorus-containing ligand, and combinations thereof; (b) maintaining a residence time in the reaction zone sufficient to convert about 95% or more of the hydrogen cyanide and to produce a reaction mixture comprising 3-pentenenitrile and 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile, wherein the 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile concentration is maintained below about 15 weight percent of the total mass of the reaction mixture; (c) distilling the reaction mixture to obtain a first stream comprising 1,3-butadiene, a second stream comprising 3-pentenenitrile, 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile, (Z)-2-methyl-2-butenenitrile, and optionally 1,3-butadiene, and a third stream comprising the catalyst composition; (d) distilling the second stream to obtain a fourth stream comprising 1,3-butadiene, a fifth stream comprising 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile, (Z)-2-methyl-2-butenenitrile, and optionally 1,3-butadiene, and a sixth stream comprising 3-pentenenitrile; and (e) distilling the fifth stream to obtain a seventh stream comprising 1,3-butadiene, an eighth stream comprising (Z)-2-methyl-2-butenenitrile, and a ninth stream comprising 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile.