Nylon 12 (Polylaurylamide)

Nylon 12 is produced in a similar way to nylon 6 by the ring opening polymerization of laurolactam. The polymer has a lower water capacity than nylon 6 due to its higher hydrophobic properties. The polymerization reaction is slower than for caprolactam. Higher temperatures are used to increase the rate of the reaction:

The monomer (laurolactam) could be produced from 1,5,9 cyclododecatriene, a trimer of butadiene. The trimer is epoxidized with peracetic acid or acetaldehyde peracetate and then hydrogenated. The saturated epoxide is rearranged to the ketone with MgI₂ at 100°C.  This is then changed to the oxime and rearranged to laurolactam.