US 7,465,832 B2
Method of producing xylylenediamine
Tomohiro Sugawara, Okayama (Japan); Takafumi Abe, Kanagawa (Japan); Tatsuyuki Kumano, Okayama (Japan); and Kinji Kato, Okayama (Japan)
Assigned to Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc., Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on May 17, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/749,787.
Claims priority of application No. 2006-138812 (JP), filed on May 18, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2007/0270613 A1, Nov. 22, 2007
Int. Cl. C07C 209/48 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 564—385 5 Claims
 
1. A method of producing xylylenediamine, comprising the steps of:
(1) subjecting a liquid mixture of phthalonitriles with liquid ammonia or a mixture of liquid ammonia and an organic solvent to a first catalytic hydrogenation treatment, thereby hydrogenating the phthalonitriles to obtain a reaction product (A), wherein a content of the liquid ammonia or the mixture of liquid ammonia and an organic solvent is 80 wt % or more;
(2) removing the liquid ammonia in the reaction product (A) to obtain a reaction product (B);
(3) subjecting the reaction product (B) to a second catalytic hydrogenation treatment, thereby hydrogenating cyanobenzylamine to obtain a reaction product (C); and
(4) distilling the reaction product (C) to purify xylylenediamine.