Process for making tertiary aminoalcohol compounds

A process for making a tertiary aminoalcohol compound of formula I:

• wherein R2 is H or C1-C6 alkyl;
• R5 is H, C1-C6 alkyl, or C3-C12 cycloalkyl, or R2 and R5 together with the carbon to which they are attached form C3-C12 cycloalkyl;
• R3 and R4 are independently C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C12 cycloalkyl, or —C(OH)R2R5, or R3 and R4 together with the carbon to which they are attached form C3-C12 cycloalkyl, the process comprising:
• (a) reacting a nitroalkane compound of formula IV
• wherein R and R1 are independently H, C1-C6 alkyl, or C3-C12 cycloalkyl with a molar excess of a carbonyl compound of formula III
• in the presence of a basic catalyst to form an intermediate product mixture comprising free carbonyl compound of formula III and a nitroalcohol compound of formula II
• (b) hydrogenating the intermediate product mixture in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrogenation catalyst such that the nitroalcohol compound of formula II and the free carbonyl compound of formula III react therein to form the tertiary aminoalcohol compound of formula I.