On the rate of formation of ε‐caprolactam upon equilibration of extracted poly‐ε‐aminocaproic acid polymers

The data of Smith (CA 53, 763b) on the rate of formation of e-caprolactam (I) at 250 Deg in previously extd. lactam-free polymers are interpreted in terms of the mechanism and math. relations, developed by the authors to describe the polymerization of I in systems contg. H2O. A lactam formation (reverse reaction) rate const. (K3') at 250 Deg of 42 kg. mole-1 hr.-1 has been detd. from the English reference data. The same const., calcd. from the addn. rate (forward reaction) (K3) of about 70 kg.2 mole-2 hr.-1 and the equil. const. of about 0.70 mole kg.-1, both from the Dutch references, equaled .apprx.50 at 253.5 Deg. The 2 values are thus in reasonable agreement. [on SciFinder (R)]