Dimerization process

Abstract

Acrylonitrile is dimerized by reaction in the presence of a catalyst consisting essentially of (a) at least one metal compound of the formula M(X).sub.n wherein M is Zn or Co, X is an anion derived from an alkyl or aryl sulfonic acid or from a carboxylic acid containing at least two carbon atoms which is substituted by at least one of the groups, --F, --Cl, --Br, --I and --CN in the .alpha.-C-position relative to the acid group and n is a number equal to the valence of the metal M divided by the number of acid equivalents of X and (b) at least one nitrogen-containing Lewis Base which is (1) a tertiary monoamine of the formula ##EQU1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, and R.sup.3 are the same or different and each is an alkyl, cycloalkyl, benzyl or aryl radical; or (2) a tertiary di- or poly-functional amine which contains at least two Lewis Base nitrogen groups separated from each other by at least one carbon atom, and which are (a) N-disubstituted amino groups wherein each N-substituent is the same or different and is an alkyl, cycloalkyl, benzyl or aryl radical, or (b) N-heterocyclic groups containing 3 to 20 carbon atoms; or (3) an N-substituted heterocyclic amine containing 3 to 20 carbon atoms in the heterocyclic ring wherein the N-substituent is an alkyl, cycloalkyl, benzyl or aryl radical.