Claims
- 1. A method for the continuous conversion of a nitro moiety in a nitro polyamine having the structure X or Y ##STR7## to the corresponding primary amino moiety comprising hydrogenating the nitro moiety by flowing a liquid mass of the nitro polyamine over a solid mass of a catalyst consisting essentially of from about 40 to about 85 weight percent zerovalent nickel dispersed on a support of silica at a temperature from about 40.degree. to about 120.degree. C. and at a partial hydrogen pressure from about 10 up to about 1000 pounds per square inch and recovering the hydrogenated product, where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups containing from 1 up to about 10 carbon atoms, p is an integer from 1 up to about 4, q is an integer from 2 up to about 6, and R.sub.3 is hydrogen, an alkyl group containing from 1 up to about 10 carbon atoms, or a cycloalkyl group containing from 5 up to about 10 carbon atoms.
- 2. The method of claim 1 where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups containing from 1 through 6 carbon atoms.
- 3. The method of claim 1 where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each are methyl groups.
- 4. The method of claim 1 where q is 2.
- 5. The method of claim 1 where p is 1.
- 6. The method of claim 1 where each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are methyl groups, p is 1, and q is 2.
- 7. The method of claim 1 where the nitro polyamine is N,N'-bis-(2-methyl-2-nitropropyl)-1,2-ethanediamine.
- 8. The method of claim 1 where the nitro polyamine is 1-(2'-aminoethyl)amino-2-methyl-2-nitropropane.
- 9. The method of claim 1 where the nitro polyamine is 1-(2'-methylaminoethyl)amino-2-methyl-2-nitropropane.
- 10. The method of claim 1 where the nitro polyamine is 1-(2'-cyclohexylaminoethyl)amino-2-methyl-2-nitropropane.
- 11. The method of claim 1 where the support of silica contains not more than about 10 weight percent of alumina.
- 12. The method of claim 1 where the support of silica contains not more than about 8 weight percent of alumina.
- 13. The method of claim 1 where the aliphatic nitro compound is present as a 10 to 50 weight percent solution in a moderately polar organic solvent.
- 14. The method of claim 13 where the organic solvent is an alcohol containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms.
- 15. The method of claim 1 further characterized in that the solid mass of catalyst is diluted with inert particles.
- 16. The method of claim 1 where the catalyst contains from 50 up to 80 weight percent nickel.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 07/777,944 filed Oct. 17, 1991, now abandoned, all of which is incorporated by reference.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
777944 |
Oct 1991 |
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