Process for the preparation of saturated or unsaturated primary fatty amines

1. A process for the preparation of unsaturated and saturated primary fatty amines comprising the steps of:

(a) chlorination of the corresponding acid by treatment with neat thionyl chloride in dichloromethane at reflux temperature, to obtain a solution of the corresponding chloride in dichloromethane,

(b) addition of the chloride solution of step a) to a solution of liquid ammonia in dichloromethane at a temperature comprised between 0 and 10° C. to yield the corresponding amide,

(c) reduction of the amide to amine by treatment with lithium aluminium hydride in tetrahydrofuran, followed by extraction of amine by t-butyl methyl ether,

(d) purification of amine of step c) by treatment in solution in t-butyl methyl ether by hydrochloric acid followed by treatment by acetonitrile to yield amine hydrochloride, and optionally

(e) treatment of amine hydrochloride of step d) by t-butyl methyl ether and a base to yield amine as a free base.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the primary saturated and unsaturated fatty amines are selected from the group consisting of amines comprising 4 to 30 carbon atoms, unsaturated amines being allowed to comprise one or more double bonds, isomers and salts thereof.

3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the amines are selected from the group consisting of oleylamine, stearylamine and their respective isomers and salts.

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the acid used in step a) is oleic acid.

5. The process according to claim 2 , wherein the amines are selected from the group consisting of oleylamine, stearylamine and their respective isomers and salts.

6. The process according to claim 2 , wherein the amines comprise 15 to 24 carbon atoms.

7. The process according to claim 4 , wherein the acid is oleic acid with more than 99% purity.