Patent ID: 8692036

Claim:
A method for preparing 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane (DMNB) comprising the following steps: (a) reacting a titanium-silicate molecular sieve catalyst with acetone, hydrogen peroxide and ammonia at a temperature from about 65° C. to about 80° C. to obtain a modified titanium-silicate molecular sieve catalyst; and (b1) reacting acetone oxime and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of the modified titanium-silicate molecular sieve catalyst and water to obtain a reaction product including 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane (DMNB), wherein said reaction is performed at a temperature from about 60° C. to about 90° C. and at a pH of about 8 to about 10; or (b2) reacting acetone, ammonia and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of the modified titanium-silicate molecular sieve catalyst and water to obtain a reaction product including 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane (DMNB), wherein said reaction is performed at a temperature of from about 60° C. to about 90° C. and at a pH of about 8 to about 10; and (c) separating the DMNB from the reaction product of (b1) or (b2).