METHOD FOR PRODUCING SECONDARY AND TERTIARY AMINES

1 . A method for producing at least one of a secondary amine, a tertiary amine, or a mixture thereof by reacting at least one alcohol represented by formula (1)

with at least one amine represented by formula (2)

in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst, wherein each R 1 and R 2 is independently selected from hydrogen and a C 1 -C 4 alkyl group, each R 3 is an alkyl ether moiety independently selected from the group consisting of —CH 2 —CH 2 —O—CH 2 —CH 2 —, —CH 2 —CH 2 —O—CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 — and —CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 —O—CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 — and each R 4 and R 5 is independently selected from hydrogen or a lower alkyl group.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst comprises a copper-chromite catalyst.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one alcohol comprises 2-(2-(dimethylamino)ethoxy)ethan-1-ol.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one amine is selected N,N-dimethyl-2-(2-(methylamino)ethoxy)ethan-1-amine, 2-(2-aminoethoxy)-N,N-dimethylethan-1-amine, 2,2′-oxybis (N-methylethan-1-amine), and mixtures thereof.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one amine further comprises 2,2′-oxybis (N,N-dimethylethan-1-amine).

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one amine comprises N,N-dimehtyl-2-(2-(methylamino)ethoxy)ethan-1-amine

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of the at least one alcohol to the at least one amine is in a range from about 30:70 to about 70:30.

8 . A method of forming a polyurethane material comprising contacting a compound containing an isocyanate functional group and an active hydrogen-containing compound in the presence of the at least one secondary amine, tertiary amine, or mixture thereof as set forth in claim 1 .

9 . A polyurethane material produced according to the method of claim 8 .