Preparation of high molecular weight, branched, acyclic polyalkyleneamines and mixtures thereof

A method of making a high molecular weight, branched, acyclic polyalkyleneamine-containing product comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a reaction composition comprising a first linear polyalkyleneamine that has at least two non-tertiary amine groups separated by at least a ternary carbon atom spacing and at least one second polyalkyleneamine having the formula
• wherein x, y, and z are the same or different and are integers of from 1 to 10;
• a, b, c, d, e, and f are the same or different and are H or hydrocarbyl of from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, A, B, C, D, E, are the same or different and are H or hydrocarbyl of from 1 to 10 carbon atoms;
• provided that at least two of the amine groups are primary or secondary;
• and
• (b) subjecting the reaction composition to a transamination reaction in the presence of a hydrogenation/dehydrogenation catalyst to obtain the high molecular weight, branched, acyclic polyalkyleneamine-containing mixture.