Process for preparing polyalkene amines

A process for the preparation of polyalkeneamines of the formula (I) ##STR9## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, independently of one another, are each hydrogen or an unsubstituted or substituted, saturated or mono- or polyunsaturated aliphatic radical having a number-average molecular weight of up to 40000, at least one of the radicals R.sub.1 to R.sub.4 having a number average molecular weight of from 150 to 40000, and

• R.sub.5 and R.sub.6, independently of one another, are each hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkylaryl, hetaryl or an alkyleneimine radical of the formula (II) ##STR10## where Alk is straight-chain or branched alkylene,
• m is an integer from 0 to 10, and
• R.sub.7 and R.sub.8, independently of one another, are each hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkylaryl or hetaryl or, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded, form a heterocyclic structure,
• or R.sub.5 and R.sub.6, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded, form a heterocyclic structure, it being possible for each of the radicals R.sub.5, R.sub.6, R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 to be substituted by further alkyl radicals carrying hydroxyl or amino groups,
• wherein
• an epoxide of the formula (IV) ##STR11## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 have the abovementioned meanings, is reacted with a nitrogen compound of the formula (V) ##STR12## where R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 have the abovementioned meanings, to give the amino alcohol of the formula (VI) ##STR13## the amino alcohol of the formula (VI) is catalytically dehydrated and the olefin formed is hydrogenated to give the amine of the formula (I).