caprolaktám

Caprolactam is an organic compound with the chemical formula (CH2)5CONH. It is a white, hygroscopic solid with a characteristic odor. Caprolactam is a cyclic amide, also known as a lactam, and is a key intermediate in the production of Nylon 6. Its name is derived from its six-carbon structure, with "capro-" referring to the six carbons and "-lactam" indicating its cyclic amide functional group.

The primary industrial method for producing caprolactam involves the Beckmann rearrangement of cyclohexanone oxime. Cyclohexanone oxime is typically synthesized from cyclohexanone, which in turn can be produced from phenol or cyclohexane. The Beckmann rearrangement is an acid-catalyzed reaction that converts the oxime into caprolactam. Other less common production routes exist, but the Beckmann rearrangement remains the most economically viable and widely used.

Caprolactam's most significant application is as a monomer for the synthesis of Nylon 6 (polycaprolactam). Nylon 6 is a versatile thermoplastic polymer used in a wide range of applications, including textiles, carpets, fishing nets, industrial yarns, and engineering plastics. The polymerization of caprolactam occurs through ring-opening polymerization. Caprolactam itself also finds some niche uses as a solvent and in the production of certain copolymers. Due to its industrial importance, caprolactam is produced on a large scale globally.