3-aminomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylamine Synthesis via Acidic Parameter Shift

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for preparing 3-aminomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylamine face challenges in reducing aminonitrile content in reaction products, requiring longer residence times and increased catalyst usage, which increases costs and reactor sizes.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the reaction of 3-cyano-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexanone with ammonia, followed by the use of basic and acidic compounds in the presence of hydrogenation catalysts to convert aminonitrile into 3-aminomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylamine, optimizing catalyst usage and reaction conditions to minimize aminonitrile content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a longer hydrogenation reaction stage is used to reduce aminonitrile content, then aminonitrile content decreases, but residence time increases and catalyst consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaminonitrile contentVSAvoidresidence time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical environment parameters by introducing acidic compounds (formic acid, acetic acid, or their esters) to modify the reaction conditions. This parameter change accelerates the hydrogenation of aminonitrile to IPDA, reducing residence time from conventional levels to 1-10 hours while achieving aminonitrile content below 0.15 wt%.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses acidic compounds as intermediary substances that facilitate the hydrogenation reaction. These intermediaries (formic acid, acetic acid, or their esters) act as promoters that enhance the catalyst activity and accelerate the conversion of aminonitrile to IPDA, thereby reducing both residence time and catalyst consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If a longer hydrogenation reaction stage is used to reduce aminonitrile content, then aminonitrile content decreases, but catalyst consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaminonitrile contentVSAvoidcatalyst consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies reaction parameters by adding acidic compounds that enhance catalyst efficiency. This allows reduction of catalyst consumption to 5-20 g/L while achieving complete aminonitrile conversion (below 0.15 wt%) through accelerated reaction kinetics in the modified chemical environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Acidic compounds serve as intermediary promoters that increase catalyst effectiveness. By introducing these intermediaries, the patent reduces the quantity of catalyst needed from conventional levels to 5-20 g/L, while maintaining high conversion efficiency and achieving aminonitrile content below 0.15 wt%.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If basic compounds are used to improve IPDA yield, then IPDA yield increases, but aminonitrile content in products increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIPDA yieldVSAvoidaminonitrile content
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by using acidic compounds instead of basic compounds. While basic compounds promote IPDA formation, they leave aminonitrile unconverted. The acidic compounds achieve the opposite effect pattern - they accelerate the final conversion of aminonitrile to IPDA, thereby reducing aminonitrile content to below 0.15 wt% while maintaining high IPDA yield.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical environment from basic to acidic by introducing formic acid, acetic acid, or their esters. This parameter change fundamentally alters the reaction pathway, enabling complete conversion of aminonitrile to IPDA and achieving both high IPDA yield and low aminonitrile content (below 0.15 wt%) in the final product.

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 approach effectively reduces aminonitrile content to less than 0.15 wt%, significantly reducing catalyst consumption and reactor size, while maintaining high yields of 3-aminomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylamine, thereby lowering production costs and improving product purity.

Implementation Method 1

reacting 3-cyano-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexanone with ammonia to obtain a product containing 3-cyano-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylimine; mixing the product of step a) with a basic compound in the presence of hydrogen, NH3 and a first hydrogenation catalyst

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 2

mixing the product of step b) with an acidic compound in the presence of hydrogen, NH3 and a second hydrogenation catalyst, wherein the 3-cyano-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylamine in the products of step b) is converted into 3-aminomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylamine

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrogenation: Hydrogenation

Data Source

PatentEP2743251B13-aminomethyl-3, 5, 5-trimethyl cyclohexylamine preparation method
Publication Date: 2018.06.27 WANHUA CHEM GRP CO LTD
  • EP2743251B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2743251B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2743251B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided is a 3-aminomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylamine preparation method. A feeding flow of 3-cyano-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylimine is reacted with NH3 and hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst; the method is characterized by: firstly adding a basic compound to the feeding flow of 3-cyano-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylimine, and then after a portion of 3-cyano-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylimine has reacted, adding an acidic compound to reaction materials for further hydrogenation reaction to prepare the product. The method ensures that the aminonitrile content in the product is low, thus effectively reducing the duration of the reaction and greatly reducing the consumption of the catalyst during the hydrogenation reaction process.