Disclosed is a method for producing adipamide, which may include the steps of: (a) reacting glucose, nitric acid (HNO.sub.3), sodium nitrite (NaNO.sub.2) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) to produce a glucaric acid potassium salt, (b) producing glucamide by reacting the glucaric acid potassium salt, with an acidic solution and removing a potassium ion from the glucaric acid potassium salt, (c) preparing an reaction admixture by adding the glucamide and a catalyst to hydrogen halide and acetic acid, and (d) treating the reaction admixture with hydrogen gas in a reactor thereby producing the adipamide.

There is disclosed a process for the production of dodecanedioic acid and 11-aminoundecanoic acid, comprising: (1) reacting castor oil with a primary or secondary amine to form a amide; (2) isomerizing the amide in the presence of a catalyst to form ketoamide; (3) reacting the ketoamide with hydroxylamine to form the oximeamide; (4) subjecting the oximeamide to Beckmann rearrangement to yield a mixture of two diamides; and (5) hydrolyzing the mixed diamides to produce dodecanedioic acid, 11-aminoundecanoic acid, hexylamine and heptanoic acid.

There is disclosed a process for the production of dodecanedioic acid and 11-aminoundecanoic acid, comprising: (1) reacting castor oil with a primary or secondary amine to form a amide; (2) isomerizing the amide in the presence of a catalyst to form ketoamide; (3) reacting the ketoamide with hydroxylamine to form the oximeamide; (4) subjecting the oximeamide to Beckmann rearrangement to yield a mixture of two diamides; and (5) hydrolyzing the mixed diamides to produce dodecanedioic acid, 11-aminoundecanoic acid, hexylamine and heptanoic acid.

There is disclosed a process for the production of dodecanedioic acid and 11-aminoundecanoic acid, comprising: (1) reacting castor oil with a primary or secondary amine to form a amide; (2) isomerizing the amide in the presence of a catalyst to form ketoamide; (3) reacting the ketoamide with hydroxylamine to form the oximeamide; (4) subjecting the oximeamide to Beckmann rearrangement to yield a mixture of two diamides; and (5) hydrolyzing the mixed diamides to produce dodecanedioic acid, 11-aminoundecanoic acid, hexylamine and heptanoic acid.

An improved process for synthesizing methacrylic acid and/or alkyl methacrylates, in particular methyl methacrylate (MMA), involves reacting acetone and hydrogen cyanide in the presence of an alkaline catalyst in a first reaction stage such that a first reaction mixture containing acetone cyanohydrin (ACH) is obtained. The process then involves working up the first reaction mixture containing acetone cyanohydrin (ACH), reacting acetone cyanohydrin (ACH) and sulfuric acid in a second reaction stage (amidation), and heating the second reaction mixture in a third reaction stage (conversion), such that methacrylamide (MAA) is obtained. The process further involves hydrolyzing or esterifying methacrylamide (MAA) with water and, optionally, alcohol, preferably water and optionally methanol, in a fourth reaction stage such that methacrylic acid or alkyl methacrylate is formed. The sulfuric acid used has a concentration of 98.0 wt % to 100.0 wt %.

An improved process for synthesizing methacrylic acid and/or alkyl methacrylates, in particular methyl methacrylate (MMA), involves reacting acetone and hydrogen cyanide in the presence of an alkaline catalyst in a first reaction stage such that a first reaction mixture containing acetone cyanohydrin (ACH) is obtained. The process then involves working up the first reaction mixture containing acetone cyanohydrin (ACH), reacting acetone cyanohydrin (ACH) and sulfuric acid in a second reaction stage (amidation), and heating the second reaction mixture in a third reaction stage (conversion), such that methacrylamide (MAA) is obtained. The process further involves hydrolyzing or esterifying methacrylamide (MAA) with water and, optionally, alcohol, preferably water and optionally methanol, in a fourth reaction stage such that methacrylic acid or alkyl methacrylate is formed. The sulfuric acid used has a concentration of 98.0 wt % to 100.0 wt %.

Disclosed is a method for producing adipamide, which may include the steps of: (a) reacting glucose, nitric acid (HNO.sub.3), sodium nitrite (NaNO.sub.2) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) to produce a glucaric acid potassium salt, (b) producing glucamide by reacting the glutaric acid potassium salt, with an acidic solution and removing a potassium ion from the glucaric acid potassium salt, (c) preparing an reaction admixture by adding the glucamide and a catalyst to hydrogen halide and acetic acid, and (d) treating the reaction admixture with hydrogen gas in a reactor thereby producing the adipamide.

Disclosed is a method for producing adipamide, which may include the steps of: (a) reacting glucose, nitric acid (HNO.sub.3), sodium nitrite (NaNO.sub.2) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) to produce a glucaric acid potassium salt, (b) producing glucamide by reacting the glutaric acid potassium salt, with an acidic solution and removing a potassium ion from the glucaric acid potassium salt, (c) preparing an reaction admixture by adding the glucamide and a catalyst to hydrogen halide and acetic acid, and (d) treating the reaction admixture with hydrogen gas in a reactor thereby producing the adipamide.

There is described a method of reducing polymer tar build-up in the production of methyl methacrylate and/or methacrylic acid by the acetone cyanohydrin process. In the method a stabiliser is contacted with the amide stage reaction medium. The stabiliser includes a hydrocarbon moiety capable of donating a labile hydrogen atom to a methacrylamide derivative capable of reaction with said labile hydrogen atom under the conditions in the said medium. The method herein is especially useful for the continuous production of methyl methacrylate and/or methacrylic acid.

There is described a method of reducing polymer tar build-up in the production of methyl methacrylate and/or methacrylic acid by the acetone cyanohydrin process. In the method a stabiliser is contacted with the amide stage reaction medium. The stabiliser includes a hydrocarbon moiety capable of donating a labile hydrogen atom to a methacrylamide derivative capable of reaction with said labile hydrogen atom under the conditions in the said medium. The method herein is especially useful for the continuous production of methyl methacrylate and/or methacrylic acid.