Nickel Catalyzed Conversion of Cyclohexanol into Cyclohexylamine in Water and Low Boiling Point Solvents

Nickel is found to demonstrate high performance in the amination of cyclohexanol into cyclohexylamine in water and two solvents with low boiling points: tetrahydrofuran and cyclohexane. Three catalysts, Raney Ni, Ni/Al2O3 and Ni/C, were investigated and it is found that the base, hydrogen, the solvents and the support will affect the activity of the catalyst. In water, all the three catalysts achieved over 85% conversion and 90% cyclohexylamine selectivity in the presence of base and hydrogen at a high temperature. In tetrahydrofuran and cyclohexane, Ni/Al2O3 exhibits better activity than Ni/C under optimal conditions. Ni/C was stable during recycling in aqueous ammonia, while Ni/Al2O3 was not due to the formation of AlO(OH).