Products obtained by the conversion of glycolaldehyde derivatives and aminating agents and their conversion to ethyleneamines and ethanolamines

A process for the manufacture of ethyleneamines and ethanolamines by converting a triazinane derivative of formula (I):

• in which R1, R2, R3 are—the same or different—hydrogen (H), alkyl, or cycloalkyl:
• and/or a diaminodioxane derivative of formula (IV):
• in which R1, R2, R3 are—the same or different—hydrogen (H), alkyl;
• with hydrogen in a hydrogenation reactor in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst;
• wherein the hydrogenation catalyst is a Raney copper, Raney nickel, or Raney cobalt catalyst, or a catalyst obtained from the reduction of an oxide of nickel or cobalt.

A process for the manufacture of ethyleneamines and ethanolamines, comprising the steps of:

• (i) converting a glycolaldehyde derivative of formula (II)
• in which R2, R3 are—the same or different—hydrogen, alkyl, or cycloalkyl;
• and
• an aminating agent of formula (III);
• R1-NH2 (III)
• in which R1 is C1-6-alkyl and C3-6-cycloalkyl,
• in the gas or liquid phase;
• (ii) feeding the reaction products obtained in step (i) into a hydrogenation reactor, where the reaction products are converted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst;
• wherein the hydrogenation catalyst is a Raney copper, Raney nickel, or Raney cobalt catalyst, or a catalyst obtained from the reduction of an oxide of nickel or cobalt;
• wherein prior to feeding the reaction products into step (ii), the reaction products obtained in step (i) are separated from the gas or liquid phase or the solutions or the dispersions obtained in step (i) are concentrated by evaporating at least part of the solvent comprised in such solutions
• in which
• R1, R2, R3 are—the same or different—C1-6-alkyl
• or C3-6-cycloalkyl
• or a diaminodioxane derivative formula (IV)
• in which
• R1, R2, R3 are—the same or different C1-6-alkyl,
• or C3-6-cycloalkyl.