Nitriles and primary amines from primary alcohols

Nitriles and primary amines are produced by a vapour phase reaction involving the reductive amination of a primary alcohol with ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of a copper chromite dehydrogenation catalyst. The nitriles produced are readily convertible to the same corresponding primary amines. The reaction may be conducted at a temperature of 240 to 320 DEG C which is substantially lower than the temperatures used in other methods used to make nitriles. Conversions of the alcohols are 95% higher, and selectivities to the combined primary amines and nitriles are higher than other methods.