This talk will report the successful catalytic hydration of acetone cyanohydrin using a platinum complex as catalyst.  The hydration of acetone cyanohydrin is an important step in the production of methyl methacrylate and other acrylates.  All prior attempts to find a homogeneous hydration catalyst that can hydrate acetone cyanohydrin failed because the catalysts are poisoned by cyanide.  The new catalyst is not poisoned by cyanide.  Currently, the most widely used method for the production of methacrylates is the acetone cyanohydrin process, in which acetone cyanohydrin is hydrated using sulfuric acid.  Unfortunately, 2.5 kg of ammonium hydrogen sulfate are formed as a by-product for every kg of acrylate product formed.  Over six billion kg of this by-product are produced yearly by the acetone cyanohydrin process so a better hydration method is needed.  The new catalytic reaction reported in this talk does not produce any significant amount of by-products.

Catalytic hydration of acetone cyanohydrin

244th National Meeting (2012)

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