40. The gas-phase ammoxidation of n-hexane to unsaturated C6 dinitriles, intermediates for hexamethylenediamine synthesis

This paper reports about an investigation on the catalytic gas-phase ammoxidation of n-hexane aimed at the production of 1,6-C6 dinitriles, precursors for the synthesis of hexamethylenediamine. Catalysts tested were those also active and selective in the ammoxidation of propane to acrylonitrile: rutile-type V/Sb and Sn/V/Nb/Sb mixed oxides. Several N-containing compounds formed; however, the selectivity to cyano-containing aliphatic linear C6 compounds was low, due to the relevant contribution of side reactions such as combustion, cracking and formation of heavy compounds.INGLESE