Abstract:
Provided is a process for producing a nylon polymer comprising the steps of contacting an omega-terminal fatty acid or fatty acid ester with a pentenenitrile to produce a nitrile-functionalized unsaturated fatty acid or fatty acid ester, hydrogenating the nitrile-functionalized unsaturated fatty acid or fatty acid ester with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to produce a saturated amino acid and subjecting the saturated amino acid to polyamidation conditions to provide a nylon polymer.