Process for producing compounds comprising nitrile functions

Abstract

Process for producing compounds comprising nitrile functions The present invention relates to a process for producing compounds comprising at least one nitrile function by hydrocyanation of a compound comprising at least one non-conjugated unsaturation. The invention proposes a process for producing compounds comprising at least one nitrile function by hydrocyanation of an organic compound comprising at least one non-conjugated unsaturation, comprising from 2 to 20 carbon atoms, by reaction with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of a catalytic system comprising a complex of nickel having the oxidation state of zero with at least one organophosphorus ligand chosen from the group comprising organophosphites, organophosphonites, organophosphinites and organosphosphines and a cocatalyst of the Lewis acid type.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A process for producing compounds comprising at least one nitrile function, the process comprising hydrocyanating an organic compound comprising at least one non-conjugated unsaturation and comprising from 2 to 20 carbon atoms, by reacting said organic compound with hydrogen cyanide in the presence of a catalytic system comprising a complex of nickel having an oxidation state of zero with at least one organophosphorus ligand selected from the group consisting of organophosphites, organophosphonites, organophosphinites and organosphosphines and a cocatalyst, wherein the cocatalyst is an organometallic compound corresponding to formula I:
   [(R) a —(X) y -] n M—M 1 [—(X) z —(R 1 ) a1 ] n1    (I)
   in which:   M, M 1 , which can be identical or different, represent an element selected from the group consisting of: B, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, Mo. Ni, Fe, W and Cr, wherein M and M1 cannot result in the combination of B and Sn,   R, R 1 , which can be identical or different, represent an aliphatic radical or a radical comprising an aromatic or cycloaliphatic ring, which is substituted or unsubstituted, and can be bridged or not bridged, or a halide radical,   X representing an oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur or silicon atom,   y and z are integers, which can be the same or different, equal to 0 or 1,   n and n 1  are integers equal to the valency of the elements M, M 1 , reduced by 1,   a and a 1  are integers, which can be the same or different, equal to the valency of the element X reduced by 1 if y and z are equal to 1, or equal to 1 if y and z are equal to 0.   
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein R and R 1 , which can be the same or different, represent an aromatic, aliphatic or cycloaliphatic radical, which is substituted or unsubstituted, and which can be bridged or not bridged, or a halide radical. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein M, M 1 , which can be identical or different, represent an element selected from the group consisting of: B, Si, Ge, Sn, and Pb. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein the catalytic system comprises a molar ratio of cocatalyst relative to moles of Ni of between 0.1 and 10. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein the organic compound comprising at least one non-conjugated unsaturation is butadiene. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein the organic compound comprising at least one non-conjugated unsaturation is a pentenenitrile compound. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 13 , wherein the compounds comprising at least one nitrile function are selected from one of adiponitrile, methylglutaronitrile, and succinonitrile. 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein the organophosphorus ligand is selected from the group consisting of monodentate organophosphorous compounds and bidentate organophosphorus compounds. 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one organophosphorus ligand is tritolyl phosphite, bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)-1,2-benzene, or tris(2-thienyl)phosphine. 
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein the cocatalyst is selected from bis(pinacolato)dibroron, hexaethyldigermanium (IV), hexabutyldistannane, and diphenyltetramethyldisilane.