Abstract: Acrylonitrile is catalytically dimerized in the presence of an organic phosphorus (III) catalyst, an inert hydrocarbon reaction solvent and a non-interfering proton-donating solvent; and the dimerized product separated from the catalyst by extraction. In the extraction the dimerized product is preferably dissolved in an extraction solvent and removed from the catalyst phase preparation. In the instant invention, the extraction solvent is an amide, preferably formamide. The extraction solvent and proton-donating solvent may be identical.

Abstract: An improvement in an electrolytic hydrodimerization process for hydrodimerizing an olefinic compound such as acrylonitrile to form a dimerized product such as adiponitrile in which an aqueous electrolyte solution comprised of the olefinic compound, a directive salt (providing quaternary ammonium cations) and a conductive salt is electrolyzed in a reaction cell, the aqueous solution is purged from the reaction cell, and subjected to a series of steps involving the recovery of the product, the directive salt and the conductive salt, the recovered salts being used to reconstitute the aqueous solution, the improvement being a functionally coordinated evaporation step which permits a higher rate and more efficient recovery of product and salts, a higher purge rate and a substantially higher yield of the dimerized product. The invention also constitutes an improved electrolyte recovery process.

Abstract: In a process for hydrodimerizing an olefinic nitrile, amide or ester by electrolyzing an aqueous solution of the olefinic starting material, conductive salt and a nitrilocarboxylic acid compound that inhibits formation of hydrogen at the cathode, such hydrogen formation can be even further inhibited and the current efficiency of the process significantly further increased by including in the solution a tri(C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkanol)amine such as triethanolamine.