A compound of the structural formula 1

##STR00001##

Also disclosed is a process for producing 2-(3-(aminomethyl)-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexyl)propane-1,3-diamine by A) reacting isophorone nitrile and malononitrile to afford the intermediate 2-(3-cyano-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylidene)malononitrile, and B) hydrogenating 2-(3-cyano-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylidene)malononitrile in the presence of at least one catalyst. In another embodiment, the hydrogenation in step B) of the process is performed at 20-120° C. and at 20-300 bar.

A diamine 2-(3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl)propane-1,3-diamine of formula 1

##STR00001## and a process for producing 2-(3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl)propane-1,3-diamine by A) reacting isophorone (IP) and malononitrile to afford the intermediate 2-(3,5,5-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-ylidene)malononitrile, and B) hydrogenating 2-(3,5,5-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-ylidene)malononitrile in the presence of at least one catalyst. In another embodiment, the hydrogenation in step B) of the process is performed at 20-120° C. and at 20-300 bar.

A diamine 2-(3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl)propane-1,3-diamine of formula 1

##STR00001## and a process for producing 2-(3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl)propane-1,3-diamine by A) reacting isophorone (IP) and malononitrile to afford the intermediate 2-(3,5,5-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-ylidene)malononitrile, and B) hydrogenating 2-(3,5,5-trimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-ylidene)malononitrile in the presence of at least one catalyst. In another embodiment, the hydrogenation in step B) of the process is performed at 20-120° C. and at 20-300 bar.

The present invention relates to a process for purifying adiponitrile (ADN), wherein crude ADN is introduced into a rectification apparatus (R1). The rectification apparatus (R1) comprises a first side draw and preferably also a second side draw, the first side draw being disposed below the crude ADN introduction point and the optional second side draw being disposed above the crude ADN introduction point. The first side draw is used to draw off a gaseous stream comprising ADN while the optional second side draw is used to draw off undesired by-products such as 1-amino-2-cyanocyclopentene (ACCP) which are often generated in ADN production and consequently may be present in the crude ADN. The gaseous stream from the first side draw of (R1) is introduced into a second rectification apparatus (R2). (R2) is used to separate off ADN from remaining high boilers and any other by-products present, pure ADN being drawn off from (D2) as overhead product. It is preferable when the process according to the invention employs crude ADN from a reaction of butadiene with hydrocyanic acid (HCN).

The present invention relates to a process for purifying adiponitrile (ADN), wherein crude ADN is introduced into a rectification apparatus (R1). The rectification apparatus (R1) comprises a first side draw and preferably also a second side draw, the first side draw being disposed below the crude ADN introduction point and the optional second side draw being disposed above the crude ADN introduction point. The first side draw is used to draw off a gaseous stream comprising ADN while the optional second side draw is used to draw off undesired by-products such as 1-amino-2-cyanocyclopentene (ACCP) which are often generated in ADN production and consequently may be present in the crude ADN. The gaseous stream from the first side draw of (R1) is introduced into a second rectification apparatus (R2). (R2) is used to separate off ADN from remaining high boilers and any other by-products present, pure ADN being drawn off from (D2) as overhead product. It is preferable when the process according to the invention employs crude ADN from a reaction of butadiene with hydrocyanic acid (HCN).

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.

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.

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.

Tertiary amine catalysts having isocyanate reactive groups capable of forming thermally stable covalent bonds able to withstand temperatures from 120° C. and higher and up to 250° C. are disclosed. These catalyst can be used to produce polyurethane foam having the following desirable characteristics: a) very low chemical emissions over a wide range of environmental conditions and isocyanate indexes (e.g., indexes as low as 65 but higher than 60); b) sufficient hydrolytic stability to maintain the catalyst covalently bound to foam without leaching of tertiary amine catalyst when foam is exposed to water or aqueous solutions even at temperatures higher than ambient (temperature range 25° C. to 90° C.); and c) stable contact interface between the polyurethane polymer and other polymers (for example polycarbonate) with minimal migration of tertiary amine catalyst from polyurethane polymer to other polymers yielding no noticeable polymer deterioration at the point of contact even under conditions of heat and humidity.

Tertiary amine catalysts having isocyanate reactive groups capable of forming thermally stable covalent bonds able to withstand temperatures from 120° C. and higher and up to 250° C. are disclosed. These catalyst can be used to produce polyurethane foam having the following desirable characteristics: a) very low chemical emissions over a wide range of environmental conditions and isocyanate indexes (e.g., indexes as low as 65 but higher than 60); b) sufficient hydrolytic stability to maintain the catalyst covalently bound to foam without leaching of tertiary amine catalyst when foam is exposed to water or aqueous solutions even at temperatures higher than ambient (temperature range 25° C. to 90° C.); and c) stable contact interface between the polyurethane polymer and other polymers (for example polycarbonate) with minimal migration of tertiary amine catalyst from polyurethane polymer to other polymers yielding no noticeable polymer deterioration at the point of contact even under conditions of heat and humidity.