Production of N-alkylated amines

Abstract

This invention enables production of N-alkylated amines without the use of high pressures, and with high recovery, by continuous single-step reaction of an alcohol with either ammonia or a primary or secondary amine, in vapor phase, through the discovery that thorium sulfate, used as a catalyst for the first time in said reaction, enables discard of high pressures, reaction at atmospheric pressure or thereabout, and the use of simple equipment and low labor cost.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows: 
     
       1. The production of N-alkylated amines by reaction of an alcohol with a member of the group consisting of .[.ammonia,.]. primary amines and secondary amines, by vapor phase reaction with thorium sulfate as a catalyst and at a temperature range of 200-500° C., and without high pressures. 
     
     
       2. The production of N-alkylated amines in accordance with claim 1, under substantially atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
       3. The production of N-alkylated amines in accordance with claim 1 by single step vapor phase reaction with thorium sulfate carried by a granular carrier, with an applied temperature of 300-500° C. 
     
     
       4. The production of N-alkylated amines in accordance with claim 1 with a reaction temperature of about 360° C. 
     
     
       5. In the continuous vapor phase reaction of an alcohol with a member of the group consisting of .[.ammonia,.]. primary amines and secondary amines, the use of thorium sulfate as a dehydrating catalyst in said reaction under heat and without high pressures. 
     
     
       6. The production of N-alkylated amines by vapor phase reaction of dodecyl alcohol and dimethyl amine with thorium sulfate as a catalyst, under heat and without high pressures.  .Iadd.7. The production of N-alkylated amines by reaction of an alcohol selected from the group consisting of ethanol, propanol, butanol, pentanol, octanol, decanol, dodecanol tetradecanol, hexadecanol and octadecanol with a member of the group consisting of primary amines and secondary amines, by vapor phase reaction with thorium sulfate as a catalyst and at a temperature range of 200-500°  C., and without high pressures. .Iaddend..Iadd. 8. The production of N-alkylated amines by reaction of an alcohol with a secondary amine by vapor phase reaction with thorium sulfate as a catalyst and at a temperature range of 200-500°  C., and without high pressures. .Iadd. 9. The production of N-alkylated amines by reaction of an alcohol with a primary amine by vapor phase reaction with thorium sulfate as a catalyst and at a temperature range of 200-500°  C., and without high pressures.