Reductive alkylation of amines with orthocarboxylic acid esters
The present invention relates to a process for the N-alkylation of amines by reacting an amine with an orthocarboxylic acid ester and with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst.
1. A process for the N-alkylation of amines or of ammonia, comprising reacting an orthocarboxylic acid ester with an amine or with ammonia and with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the reaction takes place in the presence of an acid.
3. The process of claim 2 , wherein the reaction takes place at a molar ratio of acid to amine in a range from 0.01:100 to 10:100.
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the reaction takes place at a molar ratio of hydrogenation catalyst to the amine used in a range from 1:10 to 1:100 000.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the reaction takes place at a hydrogen partial pressure in a range from 0.1 bar to 200 bar.
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the reaction is carried out in a temperature range from 20° C. to 200° C.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogenation catalyst is a heterogeneous hydrogenation catalyst.
8. The process of claim 7 , wherein the heterogeneous hydrogenation catalyst comprises at least one active metal.
9. The process of claim 8 , wherein the active metal is a metal of group VII B and/or VIII B of the Periodic Table of the Elements.
10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the reaction takes place in a solvent.
11. The process of claim 10 , wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, chlorohydrocarbons, ethers, esters and alcohols.
12. The process of claim 1 , wherein the reaction is carried out without solvents.
13. The process of claim 4 , wherein the reaction takes place at a hydrogen partial pressure in a range from 0.1 bar to 200 bar.
14. The process of claim 13 , wherein the reaction is carried out in a temperature range from 20° C. to 200° C.
15. The process of claim 4 , wherein the hydrogenation catalyst is a heterogeneous hydrogenation catalyst.
16. The process of claim 15 , wherein the heterogeneous hydrogenation catalyst comprises at least one active metal.
17. The process of claim 16 , wherein the active metal is a metal of group VII B and/or VIII B of the Periodic Table of the Elements.
18. The process of claim 17 , wherein the reaction takes place in a solvent.
19. The process of claim 18 , wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, chlorohydrocarbons, ethers, esters and alcohols.
20. The process of claim 17 , wherein the reaction is carried out without solvents.