N-alkyl-5-methyl-2-pyrrolidones are an attractive alternative to the common solvent N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and can be used as starting materials for synthesis of various valuable chemicals. Reductive amination of alkyl levulinates derived from biomass feedstock is a promising method for production of these compounds. In the present work, N-alkyl-5-methyl-2-pyrrolidones were obtained in excellent yields by reductive amination of ethyl levulinate with alkylamines over SiO₂-supported nickel phosphide in a flow reactor using molecular hydrogen as a reducing agent. At the same time, aromatic amines and 1-nitropropane give a lower yield of the corresponding pyrrolidones. The influence of the solvent nature, temperature, pressure, hydrogen and liquid flow rates on the catalyst performance was studied.

N-烷基-5-甲基-2-吡咯烷酮是常用溶剂 N-甲基-2-吡咯烷酮 (NMP) 的一种有吸引力的替代品，可用作合成各种有价值化学品的起始原料。源自生物质原料的乙酰丙酸烷基酯的还原胺化是生产这些化合物的有前途的方法。在目前的工作中，N-烷基-5-甲基-2-吡咯烷酮通过乙酰丙酸乙酯与烷基胺在流动反应器中使用分子氢作为还原剂在SiO ₂负载的磷化镍上还原胺化得到高产率。同时，芳香胺和 1-硝基丙烷的相应吡咯烷酮产率较低。研究了溶剂性质、温度、压力、氢气和液体流速对催化剂性能的影响。