| abstract |
The invention relates to a mixture containing itaconic acid or an itaconic acid derivative and a primary amine of formula (I), wherein the molar ratio of primary amine to itaconic acid or itaconic acid derivative ranges between 0.5:1 to 20:1, characterized in that the mixture contains 50 mole percent or less of 4-carboxypyrrolidones of formula (II), derivatives of the 4-carboxypyrrolidones of formula (II) and 4-carbamidopyrrolidones of formula (III) based on the used itaconic acid or the used itaconic acid derivative, and in which R represents a linear or branched saturated aliphatic group with 1 to 24 C atoms or a saturated cycloaliphatic group with 3 to 24 C atoms. The invention further relates to the use of the mixture according to the invention for producing 1,3-alkyl methyl pyrrolidones and/or 1,4-alkyl methyl pyrrolidones, and to a method for producing 1,3-alkyl methyl pyrrolidones and/or 1,4-alkyl methyl pyrrolidones. The invention further relates to mixtures containing 1,3-alkyl methyl pyrrolidones and/or 1,4-alkyl methyl pyrrolidones and 1,3-alkyl methyl pyrrolidines, the portion of 1,3-alkyl methyl pyrrolidines ranging between 10 to 10.000 ppm, and to mixtures containing 1,3-alkyl methyl pyrrolidone and 1,4-alkyl methyl pyrrolidone, characterized in that the molar ratio of 1,3-alkyl methyl pyrrolidone to 1,4-alkyl methyl pyrrolidone ranges between 1:1 to 10:1. |