Dsm IP Assets B.v.

Michele Catherine Christianne Janssen

Rudy Francois Maria Jozef Parton

Johannes Gerardus De Vries

Anna Maria Cornelia Francisca Castelijns

Barthel Engendahl

Henricus Wilhemus Leonardus Marie Vaessen

The invention relates to a process for the production of 5-formylvaleric acid and adipic acid or esters thereof from an isomeric mixture of pentenoic acid or esters thereof said mixture comprising at least 4-pentenoic acid or esters thereof, and further comprising 3-pentenoic acid and/or 2-pentenoic acid or esters thereof. The process allows for efficient production of two different intermediates for producing polyamide using a single process, with good selectivity, little waste, in an economically efficient fashion. The process is very suitable to use an isomeric pentenoic acid mixture obtained from valerolactone, and can be used to produce renewable polyamide intermediates using a single process.

Process for the preparation of formylvaleric acid and adipic acid

The invention provides a process for the preparation of valerolactone, said process comprising reacting levulinic acid with hydrogen by using a solid Ru catalyst, characterized in that the process is carried out in the presence of at least 0.08% (w/w) water relative to the amount of levulinic acid. Said process may be faster and more selective. This process advantageously allows the production of valerolactone from renewable sources. The valerolactone may be used in the preparation of methylpentenoate, adipic acid dimethylester, adipic acid, hexamethylenediamine, and polyamide 6,6 (all claimed).

Growing community of inventors

Echt, Netherlands

Michele Catherine Christianne Janssen