Agri-chemical synthesis: the selective production of primary amines via the heterogeneously catalysed hydrogenation of aromatic nitriles - TOSCA

The synthesis of aromatic primary amines via the heterogeneously catalysed selective hydrogen of nitriles represents a process step within certain agrichemical production chains, where amine selectivity can be compromised by a consecutive post-hydrogenation hydrogenolysis stage. In collaboration with Syngenta, the world’s largest agrichemical company, the Glasgow team are investigating how the catalyst and reaction operating conditions can be adjusted to enhance product yields. A previous INS study was able to identify retained hydrocarbonaceous species responsible for catalyst deactivation. This proposal seeks to use INS to complement laboratory infrared spectroscopic measurements to determine the geometry of benzonitrile and benzylamine over a reference Pd/Al2O3 catalyst.