Decontamination of tertiary amines from primary and secondary amines

US5481037A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Eberhard Fuchs · Bischofswerda, DE
• Tom Witzel · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Klaus Stadler

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 31, 1994
• Grant date: Jan 2, 1996
• Expiry date: Aug 31, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C2601/14
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for the purification of tertiary amines in a crude mixture contaminated with undesirable primary and secondary amines which may have only a slight variance in boiling point with respect to the tertiary amine, wherein the crude mixture of the tertiary amine is treated at temperatures which may range from 0.degree. to 200.degree. C. but preferably from 20 to 150.degree. C. and at pressures of from 1 to 200 bar but most preferably under atmospheric pressure with a carboxylate of the formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 -alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.12 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.4 -C.sub.20 -cycloalkylalkyl, and aryl or C.sub.7 -C.sub.20 -aralkyl, both optionally mono- to penta- substituted by C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 -alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, or C.sub.4 -C.sub.12 -cycloalkylalkyl, and R.sup.4 may also represent hydrogen, to selectively form the alkylamides of the primary and secondary amine contaminants; and then separating the alkylamides from the tertiary amine by distillation.