Processes for preparing ethylamines

US7642382B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Till Gerlach · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Frank Haese · Bollingstedt, DE
• Anton Meier · Birkenheide, DE
• Johann-Peter Melder · Schifferstadt, DE
• Heinz Rutter · Hochdorf-Assenheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 14, 2006
• Grant date: Jan 5, 2010
• Expiry date: Dec 16, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C209/16
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Processes comprising: (a) providing a first reactant comprising a bioethanol; and (b) reacting the first reactant with a second reactant comprising a component selected from the group consisting of ammonia, primary amines, secondary amines and mixtures thereof, in the presence of hydrogen and a catalytically effective amount of a heterogeneous hydrogenation/dehydrogenation catalyst to form an ethylamine; wherein the catalyst has been activated at a temperature of 100 to 500° C. for at least 25 minutes; wherein prior to activation the catalyst comprises: (i) 20 to 65% by weight of a support material comprising one or both of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3), (ii) 1 to 30% by weight of oxygen-comprising compounds of copper, calculated as CuO, and (iii) 21 to 70% by weight of oxygen-comprising compounds of nickel, calculated as NiO; and wherein after activation the catalyst has a CO uptake capacity of >110 μmol of CO/g of the catalyst.