Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing primary amines, which comprises hydrogenating at least one nitrile in an apparatus (V1) in the presence of an unsupported cobalt catalyst to obtain at least one primary amine, with recurrent or continuous addition of at least one compound (I) to the apparatus (V1), said compound (I) comprising at least one component selected from alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and rare earth metal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing ethylenediamine (EDA), where the process comprises the steps a) to c). In step a), formaldehyde is reacted with hydrocyanic acid (HCN) to form formaldehyde cyanohydrin (FACH), where the hydrocyanic acid is completely free or largely free of sulfur dioxide (SO2). The FACH prepared in this way is reacted with ammonia (NH3) to form aminoacetonitrile (AAN) in step b), whereupon a hydrogenation of AAN in the presence of a catalyst to form EDA is carried out in step c).

Abstract: A process for producing a polyetheramine by reacting a polyether alcohol, previously synthesized in the presence of a basic potassium or sodium compound as catalyst, with ammonia in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst in one reactor or a plurality of reactors, wherein the employed polyether alcohol when previously synthesized in the presence of a basic potassium compound as catalyst has a content of potassium ions of less than 50 wppm and when previously synthesized in the presence of a basic sodium compound as catalyst has a content of sodium ions of less than 50 wppm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying ethylenediamine (EDA) by distillation, wherein the process comprises the steps a) and b). In step a), a mixture (G1) comprising water, EDA and N-methylethylenediamine (N-MeEDA) is fed into a distillation apparatus (D1), and the major part of the water comprised in the mixture (G1) is separated off overhead at a pressure of greater than 4.8 bara. From the bottom of (D1), the water-enriched mixture (G2) is fed into a distillation apparatus (D2) in step b). At the top of (D2), the major part of the N-MeEDA is distilled off. The stream (S3) obtained from the bottom of (D2) comprises EDA, with the components water and N-MeEDA comprised in the mixture (G1) having been largely or completely removed. Further distillation steps can optionally be carried out in order to obtain pure EDA, for example when diethylenetriamine (DETA) is additionally comprised in the mixture (G1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing primary amines, which comprises hydrogenating at least one nitrile in an apparatus (V1) in the presence of an unsupported cobalt catalyst to obtain at least one primary amine, with recurrent or continuous addition of at least one compound (I) to the apparatus (V1), said compound (I) comprising at least one component selected from alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and rare earth metal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for purifying ethylenediamine (EDA) by distillation, wherein the process comprises the steps a) and b). In step a), a mixture (G1) comprising water, EDA and N-methylethylenediamine (N-MeEDA) is fed into a distillation apparatus (D1), and the major part of the water comprised in the mixture (G1) is separated off overhead at a pressure of greater than 4.8 bara. From the bottom of (D1), the water-enriched mixture (G2) is fed into a distillation apparatus (D2) in step b). At the top of (D2), the major part of the N-MeEDA is distilled off. The stream (S3) obtained from the bottom of (D2) comprises EDA, with the components water and N-MeEDA comprised in the mixture (G1) having been largely or completely removed. Further distillation steps can optionally be carried out in order to obtain pure EDA, for example when diethylenetriamine (DETA) is additionally comprised in the mixture (G1).

Abstract: Process for the preparation of racemic ?-amino acids or of glycine, wherein the corresponding ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid, selected from hydroxyacetic acid, lactic acid, malic acid, ?-hydroxyglutamic acid, isocitric acid, tartronic acid and tartaric acid, or at least one salt of the corresponding ?-hydroxycarboxylic acid is reacted in the presence of at least one heterogeneous catalyst which comprises at least one transition metal, in the presence of hydrogen with at least one nitrogen compound (c), where the nitrogen compound (c) is selected from primary and secondary amines and ammonia.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing nylon-6,6 by a) providing a muconic acid starting material selected from muconic acid, esters of muconic acid, lactones of muconic acid and mixtures thereof, b) subjecting the muconic acid starting material provided in step a) at least to some extent to a reaction with hydrogen in the presence of at least one hydrogenation catalyst Hb) to give adipic acid, c1) subjecting the muconic acid starting material provided in step a) to some extent to a reaction with hydrogen in the presence of at least one hydrogenation catalyst Hc1) to give 1,6-hexanediol, or c2) subjecting the adipic acid obtained in step b) to some extent to a reaction with hydrogen in the presence of at least one hydrogenation catalyst Hc2) to give 1,6-hexanediol, d) subjecting the 1,6-hexanediol obtained in step c1) or c2) to amination in the presence of an amination catalyst to obtain hexamethylenediamine, e) subjecting the hexamethylenediamine obtained in step d) and at least a portion o

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing hexamethylenediamine, wherein a) a muconic acid starting material is provided, which is selected from among muconic acid, esters of muconic acid, lactones of muconic acid, and mixtures thereof, b) the muconic acid starting material is subjected to a reaction with hydrogen in the presence of at least one hydrogenation catalyst in order to form 1,6-hexanediol, and c) the 1,6-hexanediol obtained in step b) is subjected to amination in the presence of an amination catalyst in order to obtain hexamethylenediamine. The invention further relates to hexamethylenediamine which can be produced by means of said method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing hexane-1,6-diol, in which a) a muconic acid starting material is provided, selected from muconic acid, esters of muconic acid, lactones of muconic acid and mixtures thereof, b) the muconic acid starting material is subjected to a reaction with hydrogen in the presence of at least one hydrogenation catalyst to hexane-1,6-diol, and c) the output from the hydrogenation in step b) is subjected to a distillative separation to obtain hexane-1,6-diol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to 2-N,N-(bis-2-aminoalkyl)-1,2-alkyldiamine derivatives of formula (I) as such, to a process for preparing the 2-N,N-(bis-2-aminoalkyl)-1,2-alkyldiamine derivatives, to the use of the 2-N,N-(bis-2-aminoalkyl)-1,2-alkyldiamine derivatives as hardeners for epoxy resins, as an intermediate in the preparation of triisocyanates, as initiators for polyetherols and/or as monomers for the preparation of polyamides, to triisocyanates derived from the 2-N,N-(bis-2-aminoalkyl)-1,2-alkyldiamine derivatives of formula (I) and also to a process for preparing these triisocyanates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing nitroalkanes by reaction of at least one alkane with at least one nitrating agent in the gas phase, wherein the nitration is carried out in a microstructured reaction zone having parallel channels having hydraulic diameters of less than 2.5 mm and a total specific internal surface area of more than 1600 m2/m3 and the alkane and the nitrating agent are conveyed under a pressure of from 1 bar to 20 bar through the reaction zone and reacted at a temperature of from 150° C. to 650° C. and the reaction products are cooled downstream of the reaction zone and discharged and the at least one nitrating agent is introduced over from two to ten introduction points along the reaction zone.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of alkali metal salts of glycine or of racemic ?-amino acids of the general formula (I) R1—CH(NH2)—COOH??(I) in which R1 is selected from hydrogen, CH3, C2H5, CH(CH3)2, (CH2)2COOH and CH2OH, wherein an alkali metal salt of the corresponding ?-ketocarboxylic acid or glyoxalic acid is reacted in the presence of at least one heterogeneous catalyst, which comprises at least one transition metal, in the presence of hydrogen with at least one nitrogen compound at temperatures in the range from 50 to 200° C., where the nitrogen compound is selected from primary and secondary amines and ammonia.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of alkali metal salts of glycine or of racemic ?-amino acids of the general formula (I) R1—CH(NH2)—COOH??(I) in which R1 is selected from hydrogen, CH3 , C2H5, CH(CH3)2, (CH2)2COOH and CH2OH, wherein an alkali metal salt of the corresponding ?-ketocarboxylic acid or glyoxalic acid is reacted in the presence of at least one heterogeneous catalyst, which comprises at least one transition metal, in the presence of hydrogen with at least one nitrogen compound at temperatures in the range from 50 to 200° C., where the nitrogen compound is selected from primary and secondary amines and ammonia.

Abstract: Process for preparing pyrrolidine of the formula I by reacting 1,4-butanediol (BDO) of the formula II with ammonia in the presence of hydrogen and a supported, metal-containing catalyst, wherein the catalytically active mass of the catalyst, prior to its reduction with hydrogen, comprises oxygen-containing compounds of aluminum, copper, nickel and cobalt and in the range from 0.2 to 5.0% by weight of oxygen-containing compounds of tin, calculated as SnO, and the reaction is carried out in the liquid phase at an absolute pressure in the range from 160 to 220 bar, a temperature in the range from 160 to 230° C., using ammonia in a molar ratio to BDO used of from 5 to 50 and in the presence of 1.0 to 4.5% by weight of hydrogen, based on the amount of BDO used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing ethylenediamine (EDA), where the process comprises the steps a) to c). In step a), formaldehyde is reacted with hydrocyanic acid (HCN) to form formaldehyde cyanohydrin (FACH), where the hydrocyanic acid is completely free or largely free of sulfur dioxide (SO2). The FACH prepared in this way is reacted with ammonia (NH3) to form aminoacetonitrile (AAN) in step b), whereupon a hydrogenation of AAN in the presence of a catalyst to form EDA is carried out in step c).

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing nitroalkanes by reaction of at least one alkane with at least one nitrating agent in the gas phase, wherein the nitration is carried out in a microstructured reaction zone having parallel channels having hydraulic diameters of less than 2.5 mm and a total specific internal surface area of more than 1600 m2/m3 and the alkane and the nitrating agent are conveyed under a pressure of from 1 bar to 20 bar through the reaction zone and reacted at a temperature of from 150° C. to 650° C. and the reaction products are cooled downstream of the reaction zone and discharged and the at least one nitrating agent is introduced over from two to ten introduction points along the reaction zone.

Abstract: Process for preparing alkanolamines which have a primary amino group (—NH2) and a hydroxyl group (—OH) by alcohol amination of diols having two hydroxyl groups (—OH) by means of ammonia with elimination of water, wherein the reaction is carried out homogeneously catalyzed in the presence of at least one complex catalyst comprising at least one element selected from groups 8, 9 and 10 of the Periodic Table and also at least one donor ligand.

Abstract: Process for the continuous preparation of an amine by reaction of a primary or secondary alcohol, aldehyde and/or ketone with hydrogen and a nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of ammonia, primary and secondary amines at a temperature in the range from 60 to 300° C. in the presence of a catalyst comprising copper oxide and aluminum oxide, wherein the reaction takes place in the gas phase and the catalytically active composition of the catalyst before reduction with hydrogen comprises from 20 to 75% by weight of aluminum oxide (Al2O3), from 20 to 75% by weight of oxygen-comprising compounds of copper, calculated as CuO, from 0 to 2% by weight of oxygen-comprising compounds of sodium, calculated as Na2O, and less than 5% by weight of oxygen-comprising compounds of nickel, calculated as NiO, and the shaped catalyst body has a pellet shape having a diameter in the range from 1 to 4 mm and a height in the range from 1 to 4 mm.

Abstract: Process for preparing primary amines which have at least one functional group of the formula (—CH2—NH2) and at least one further primary amino group by alcohol amination of starting materials having at least one functional group of the formula (—CH2—OH) and at least one further functional group (—X), where (—X) is selected from among hydroxyl groups and primary amino groups, by means of ammonia with elimination of water, wherein the reaction is carried out homogeneously catalyzed in the presence of at least one complex catalyst comprising at least one element selected from groups 8, 9 and 10 of the Periodic Table and also at least one donor ligand.