METHOD OF SEMIHYDRATION OF DINITRILES TO AMINONITRILES Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: chemical industry. SUBSTANCE: described is method of semihydration dinitriles to corresponding aminonitriles using hydrogen and in the presence of catalyst selected from Raney nickel, Raney cobalt, Raney nickel containing one activating element selected from IV b, VI b, VII b an VIII group elements and zinc, and Raney cobalt containing one activating element selected from IV b, VI b, VII b and VIII group elements and zinc in the presence of potent inorganic base e.g. alkali or alkali-earth metal derivative. Original hydrogenation medium contains, since no other solvent is present, water in amount of 0.5-20 wt % with respect to total amount of liquid component of reaction medium, diamine and/or aminonitrile formed from dinitrile being hydrogenated, and also unconverted dinitrile provided that all three compounds constitute from 80 to 99.5 wt.% with respect to total amount of liquid components of medium when dinitrile conversion degree of 95% is attained and aminonitrile selectivity of at least 60% is attained. EFFECT: simplified method. 12 cl, 14 ex