Cesium Oxide Catalyst Dehydration for Cyanopyridine Regeneration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing carbonate esters are hindered by the use of hazardous phosgene, require costly and complex purification processes, and involve inefficient regeneration of by-products like benzamide, which complicates the production process and increases the number of steps.

Innovation Solution

A method for regenerating pyridine carboamide into cyanopyridine using a dehydration reaction with a cesium oxide catalyst and specific solvents, which improves reaction speed, yield, and reduces by-product generation, allowing for efficient production of carbonate esters at normal pressure without the need for solid-liquid separation of catalysts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional phosgene-based method is used for producing carbonate ester, then production efficiency is maintained, but safety hazards and corrosion risks increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidsafety hazards and corrosion
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the hazardous phosgene substance from the production process entirely, replacing it with carbon dioxide as the carbonyl source. This eliminates the safety hazards and corrosion risks associated with phosgene while maintaining the core function of producing carbonate esters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses carbon dioxide, an inexpensive and safe substance, as a substitute for expensive and hazardous phosgene. The method accepts that the reaction requires more stringent conditions (higher pressure, catalyst presence) in exchange for using a benign, readily available reagent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Manufacturing precision

If thorough purification steps are implemented to remove halogen, then product purity increases, but production complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct purityVSAvoidpurification process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent takes out and eliminates the halogen-containing impurities at the source by using a halogen-free reagent system (carbon dioxide instead of phosgene). This prevents the formation of halogenated by-products that would require complex purification steps, thereby achieving product purity through prevention rather than correction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by selecting reagents and reaction conditions that prevent halogen impurity formation from the outset. By using carbon dioxide and appropriate catalysts, the process ensures halogen-free products without requiring subsequent purification steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If benzonitrile is used as wettable powder to improve production speed, then reaction rate increases, but by-product benzamide generation complicates the process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereaction speedVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous useful action by integrating the regeneration of cyanopyridine from benzamide back into the production cycle. The benzamide by-product is continuously converted back to cyanopyridine, which is then reused as the wettable powder catalyst, creating a closed-loop system that maintains high reaction speeds while eliminating waste accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies discarding and recovering by converting the benzamide by-product back into valuable cyanopyridine through dehydration reaction. This recovered cyanopyridine is then reused as the wettable powder catalyst, transforming a waste stream into a useful resource and simplifying the overall process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

4Manufacturing precision

If regeneration reaction is optimized for high selectivity, then by-product generation decreases, but reaction time may increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregeneration selectivityVSAvoidreaction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses parameter changes by optimizing the dehydration reaction conditions (temperature, pressure, catalyst selection) to achieve high selectivity for cyanopyridine regeneration from benzamide. By carefully controlling these parameters, the process achieves both high selectivity and acceptable reaction time, balancing quality with productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method significantly shortens the reaction time, increases yield, and simplifies the production process by balancing the dehydration reaction with carbonate ester synthesis, enabling efficient and selective regeneration of cyanopyridine and subsequent carbonate ester production.

Implementation Method 1

pyridine carboamide is subjected to a dehydration reaction in the presence of a catalyst containing comprising an oxide of cesium and a predetermined solvent to generate cyanopyridine

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 2

cyanopyridine is produced by dehydration of pyridine carboamide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDehydration reaction:

Data Source

PatentEP3560912B1Method for producing aromatic nitrile compound and method for producing carbonic acid ester
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 MITSUBISHI GAS CHEM CO INC
  • EP3560912B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3560912B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3560912B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Provided is a method for regenerating an aromatic amide compound into a corresponding aromatic nitrile compound, the method realizing a dehydration reaction of providing a target compound selectively at a high yield, with generation of a by-product being suppressed. Also provided is a method for producing an aromatic nitrile compound that decreases the number of steps of the dehydration reaction and significantly improves the reaction speed even at a pressure close to normal pressure. In addition, the above-described production method is applied to a carbonate ester production method to provide a method for producing a carbonate ester efficiently. The above-described methods are realized by a method for producing an aromatic nitrile compound including a dehydration reaction of dehydrating an aromatic amide compound, in which the dehydration reaction uses, as a solvent, any of 1,2-dimethoxybenzene, 1,3-dimethoxybenzene and 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene.