A process for producing 12-oxododecanoic acid oxime, a novel compound which can be used as a raw material in several industrial processes, is disclosed. The disclosed process relies on a renewable raw material, vernolic (cis-12,13-epoxy-cis-9-octadecenoic) acid. The process utilizes readily available chemical technology which does not involve the use of gaseous hydrocarbon or petrochemical-base feedstock. Hydrogenation of vernolic acid produces 12,13-epoxystearic acid, which can be oxidized with periodic acid to give 12-oxododecanoic acid, which can be reacted with hydroxylamine to yield 12-oxododecanoic acid oxime. A process for reducing the 12-oxododecanoic acid oxime to yield 12-aminododecanoic acid, the monomer for nylon-12, is also disclosed.
Nylon-11 monomer, 11-aminoundecanoic acid, is synthesized from 12-oxododecanoic acid oxime in a three-step reaction sequence which involves a Beckmann rearrangement, Hofmann degradation and hydrolysis. The aldoxime acid is hydrolyzed in the presence of nickel acetate tetrahydrate to give 11-carbamoylundecanoic acid. This amide is then treated with a solution of sodium methoxide and bromine at 70.degree.-80.degree. C. to give 11-(methoxycarbonylamino)undecanoic acid, which upon basic hydrolysis and subsequent neutralization, yields the 11-aminoundecanoic acid.
A process for producing 12-oxododecanoic acid oxime, a novel compound which can be used as a raw material in several industrial processes, is disclosed. The disclosed process relies on a renewable raw material, vernolic (cis-12,13-epoxy-cis-9-octadecenoic) acid. The process utilizes readily available chemical technology which does not involve the use of gaseous hydrocarbon or petrochemical-base feedstock. Hydrogenation of vernolic acid produces 12,13-epoxystearic acid, which can be oxidized with periodic acid to give 12-oxododecanoic acid, which can be reacted with hydroxylamine to yield 12-oxododecanoic acid oxime. A process for reducing the 12-oxododecanoic acid oxime to yield 12-aminododecanoic acid, the monomer for nylon-12, is also disclosed.