Process for the preparation of n,n-dialkylamides

Claim 2

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reaction is effected employing a secondary amine at 180* to 350*C. in the presence of a peroxide selected from the group consisting of benzoyl peroxide, hydrogen peroxide and tert-butylhydroperoxide.

Claim 3

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein catalyst is present in an amount of 0.0001 to 10 mole percent, based on The amount of nitrile.

Claim 4

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein primary amides, secondary amides and fatty acids which are produced are recycled.

Claim 5

A process for the preparation of N,N-dialkylamides which comprises reacting (A) a nitrile represented by the general formula R-CN wherein R is a member selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and an alkyl radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, with (B) an amine selected from the group consisting of a primary amine, a secondary amine and a tertiary amine and mixtures thereof respectively represented by the general formulae R''-NH2, (R'')2NH and (R'')3N wherein R'' is an alkyl radical having one to four carbon atoms, in a sealed reaction vessel under autogenous pressure and at temperatures in the range of about 100* to 450*C., in the presence of from 0.7 to 10 equivalents of water, based on the amount of nitrile and a catalyst comprising a substance selected from the groups of (1) metals of the group consisting of copper and zinc; (2) oxides, sulfides, oxyhalides, hydroxides, inorganic acid salts and organic acid salts of metals selected from the group consisting of copper, silver, gold, zinc, cadmium, mercury, titanium, zirconium, tin, lead, antimony, bismuth, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, osmium, palladium, iridium and platinum, said inorganic acid being selected from the group consisting of nitric acid, sulfuric acid, carbonic acid, hydrogen halides, phosphoric acid, boric acid, nitrous acid, sulfurous acid, phosphorous acid, pyrophosphoric acid, prussic acid and thiocyanic acid, said organic acid being selected from the group consisting of formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, stearic acid, oxalic acid, citric acid, p-toluene-sulfonic acid, picric acid and naphthenic acid, (3) molybdic acid, tungstic acid, potassium permanganate, cupric tungstate and basic cupric chromate, and (4) peroxides of the group consisting of, benzoyl peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, tert-butyl-hydroperoxide, peracetic acid, and potassium persulfate.