| abstract |
Hydration of nitriles, e.g. acrylonitrile, with water in presence of a catalyst comprising catalytic elemental copper prepared by reduction of a copper compound, e.g. copper sulfate, by means of a solution of soluble strong reducing agent, e.g. aqueous solution of sodium borohydride, is described. The copper is thus produced in very fine particulate form having unusually high catalytic activity by comparison with other copper catalyst. Improvements in the reduction are accomplished in alkaline, (e.g. NaOH), solutions and even further in alkaline solution comprising a reducing sugar, e.g. dextrose, in the solution with the strong reducing agent. |