Process for selective preparation of secondary and tertiary amines
AssigneeTexaco Inc.
InventorsJohn F. Knifton, David C. Alexander
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Abstract
Secondary and tertiary amines are selectively prepared by a process comprising reacting an olefin, a nitrogen-containing compound and synthesis gas in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a ruthenium-containing compound mixed with a quaternary onium salt, optionally in the presence of a solvent, heating the resultant mixture to a temperature of at least 100.degree. C. and a pressure of at least 100 psi until there is substantial formation of the desired tertiary amine and separating the desired amine by a phase separation technique.
Claims24
A process for preparing secondary and tertiary amines which comprises reacting an olefin, a nitrogen-containing compound from the group consisting of primary amines and secondary amines, carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst system consisting of a ruthenium-containing compound from the group consisting oxides of ruthenium, ruthenium salts of a mineral acid, ruthenium salts of an organic carboxylic acid, ruthenium complexes with carbonyl-containing ligands, ruthenium carbonyls and hydridocarbonyls and substituted species thereof mixed with a tetraalkylphosphonium salt, optionally in the presence of a solvent heating the resultant mixture to a temperature of between 100.degree. C. and 300.degree. C. and a pressure of between 400 and 4000 psi until there is substantial formation of the desired secondary or tertiary amines and separating the resulting product.
A process for preparing secondary and tertiary amines comprising reacting an olefin, a nitrogen-containing compound, carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a ruthenium compound, a quaternary phosphonium salt and an amide solvent, heating the resultant mixture to a temperature of at least 120.degree. C. and a pressure of at least 500 psi until there is substantial formation of the desired tertiary amine product, allowing then the separation of the reaction mixture into two distinct phases consisting of an upper phase containing the product amine and a lower phase containing the reusable catalyst, by-products and other substances, removing the upper phase, and recovering the desired secondary or tertiary amine product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.