Preparation of Higher Tertiary Amine from Higher Fatty Acid Ester and Lower Tertiary Amine

Abstract

Mono higher alkyl tertiary amine was prepared by a new one-step process from fatty acid ester :
RCOOR' + R₃'N H₂→ RCH₂NR₂'+2 R'OH
Ethyl laurate and triethyl amine were reacted at the condition of hydrogenolysis in an autoclave.
Good yield (83%) of diethyl lauryl amine was obtained at 200250 kg/cm², 300°C for 3 hrs using 1520% of Cu-Cr-O catalyst to raw ethyl laurate, and 57 mols of triethyl amine to 1 mol of raw ester.