Appeal No. 2000-2179
Application No. 09/235,242
teaches reacting an alcohol with acrylonitrile in the presence of
a cyanoethylation alkaline catalyst, i.e., potassium hydroxide,
and then hydrogenating the resulting product, without any prior
removal or neutralization of the cyanoethylation catalyst, to
obtain a product yield of 58.2% or 68.2%. See Examples 1 and 10.
We find that O’Lenick also teaches reacting an alcohol with
acrylonitrile in the presence of a cyanoethylation catalyst,
i.e., potassium hydroxide, and a specific free radical inhibitor
and then hydrogenating the resulting product, without any removal
or neutralization of the cyanoethylation catalyst, to obtain a
product yield of 98.6%. See Examples 2 and 11. The use of a
free radical inhibitor allows the resulting product to have
fewer undesirable by products [sic, by-products] giving
lighter color, higher amine values, higher primary
amine content, lower hydroxyl values which are
indications of the greater reaction efficiencies. The
process is shorter in duration and substantial
reduction in catalyst poisoning in the hydrogenation
step. This process with its inherent lower
polyacrylonitrile content allows for the elimination of
a washing step practiced in the older processes, prior
to hydrogenation. [See O’Lenick, col. 1, lines 13-21.]
Thus, we concur with the examiner that it would have been obvious
to directly hydrogenate $-alkoxypropionitriles resulting from
the cyanoethylation reaction without prior removal or
neutralization of a cyanoethylation alkaline catalyst, such as
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