Patents by Inventor William J. Murtaugh

William J. Murtaugh has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Hydrogenation of aliphatic nitriles to primary amines
    Patent number: 4235821
    Abstract: In the process of hydrogenating aliphatic nitriles to primary amines whereby the nitrile is hydrogenated in a solvent system containing added ammonia using a cobalt or ruthenium catalyst, the improvement of employing an ether as solvent and carrying out the hydrogenation in the presence of water in an amount of from about 5% to about 15% by volume of the ether solvent whereby the rate of reaction is increased, and selectivity to primary amine products is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1980
    Assignee: Suntech, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter A. Butte, Jr., William J. Murtaugh, Richard E. Mitchell
  • Process for hydrogenating aromatic dinitriles
    Patent number: 4222961
    Abstract: A process for the hydrogenation of aromatic dinitriles to the corresponding cycloaliphatic aminomethyl compounds by(1) hydrogenating the nitrile in an ether solvent containing water and ammonia using nickel or cobalt as catalyst,(2) removing by-products from the aromatic diamine thus produced,(3) subjecting the aromatic diamine to hydrogenation with a ruthenium catalyst in an aqueous solvent system devoid of ammonia and(4) isolating the cycloaliphatic diamine product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1980
    Assignee: Suntech, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter A. Butte, Jr., William J. Murtaugh, Howard P. Angstadt
  • Hydrogenation of aromatic nitriles to primary amines
    Patent number: 4186146
    Abstract: In the process of hydrogenating aromatic nitriles to primary amines whereby the nitrile is hydrogenated in a solvent system containing added ammonia using a cobalt or nickel catalyst, the improvement of employing an ether as solvent and carrying out the hydrogenation in the presence of water in an amount of from about 10% to about 20% by volume of the ether solvent whereby the rate of reaction is increased, secondary amine by-products are reduced and catalyst may be recycled without adverse effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1980
    Assignee: Suntech, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter A. Butte, Jr., William J. Murtaugh
  • Hydrogenation of phthalonitriles using rhodium catalyst
    Patent number: 3998881
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of 1,3 or 1,4-bis (aminomethyl)cyclohexane by hydrogenating a solvent solution of iso- or terephthalonitrile at a temperature between about 50.degree. and about 150.degree. C., at a pressure of between about 500 and about 1500 psig., and in the presence of a supported rhodium catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1974
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1976
    Assignee: Sun Ventures, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Albert Butte, Jr., William J. Murtaugh