1,3-dialkyl-2-imidazolidinones and a manufacturing process therefor

A process for manufacturing 1,3-dialkyl-2-imidazolidinone represented by formula (1):

• wherein R1 is hydrogen or C1-C6 alkyl and R2 is C1-C6 alkyl, containing 50 ppm by weight or less of 1-alkoxyalkyl-3-alkyl-2-imidazolidinone represented by formula (2):
• wherein R1 and R2 are as defined above;
• and R3 is C1-C6 alkylene;
• or formula (3):
• wherein R1, R2 and R3 are as defined above;
• comprising heating at 50° C. or higher N-alkylmonoethanolamine represented by formula (9):
• wherein R1 and R2 are as defined above;
• with at least one of:
• i) carbon dioxide and monoalkylamine represented by formula (6):
• R2NH2 (6 )
• wherein R2 is as defined above,
• ii) alkylcarbamate alkylamine salt represented by formula (7):
• R2NHCOOH.R2NH2 (7)
• wherein R2 is as defined above, and
• iii) 1,3-dialkylurea represented by formula (8):
• R2NHCONHR2 (8)
• wherein R2 is as defined above;
• in a reactor having a surface that contacts at least a part of at least one of the N-alkylmonoethanolamine, the at least one of i), ii) and iii), and the 1,3-dialkyl-2-imidazolidinone is made of (I) a material comprising at least one of titanium, zirconium, titanium oxide or zirconium oxide or (II) inorganic glass.