Ammonolysis

Abstract

There has been considerable interest in the past year with regard to the broad field of ammonolysis. Most of the references have involved the reactions of ammonia or amines with haloorganhcs, aldehydes and ketones, the preparation of amides and resins, and cyclizations. Amines have been prepared catalytically in high conversion and yield from alcohols, ammonia, and hydrogen. Work has been continued on forming alkanolamines from olefin oxides. Nitriles were made in various ways. Azomethines have been prepared frequently. The Mannich reaction gives interesting products. Work on reductive amination is continuing. One of the most prolific fields is that of cyclization to prepare pyridines, piperidines, quinolines, pyrroles, morpholines, and others. Investigations of quaternary ammonium compounds are proceeding, and ion exchange resins are of increasing importance. ASIN the past, the designation ammonolysis is interpreted to cover amines as well as ammonia. The intent has been to deal with the present subject quite broadly with emphasis placed on industrial interest. REACTION OF ESTERS WITH AMMONIA AND AMINESFatty acid amides are prepared commercially from fatty acids rather than fats. Roe et al. ( 90) studied the direct conversion of fats to amides and glycerol by reaction under pressure with liquid ammonia or amines, obtaining practically quantitative yields of amides from oleo, olive, castor, and tobacco seed oils.Anhydrous liquid ammonia led to higher yields than did aqueous ammonia in the ammonolysis of methyl oleate (Table I).