Abstract
Selectivity of the transalkylation of tertiary amine and alcohol was studied. The transalkylation reaction of tertiary amine with alcohol was examined by use of various metals and metal oxides as catalyst, but the reaction was only catalyzed by cobalt, nickel, iron, or ruthenium. The metal oxides did not catalyze the reaction without hydrogen pressure, but the metal powders catalyzed it in nitrogen atmosphere. The best yield and selectivity of the transalkylated tertiary amine was obtained by using cobalt powder, ruthenium powder or copper chromite modified with manganese dioxide or barium oxide.
By increasing the temperature (250→300°C), decreasing the reaction time (3→2hrs), increasing the initial hydrogen pressure (0→20kg/cm2) and by increasing the amount of tertiary amine, the tertiary amine exchanged by one alkyl group was increased. By the use of cobalt powder or ruthenium powder, the tertiary amine exchanged by one alkyl group was formed in best yield, and formation of the tertiary amine exchanged by two alkyl groups decreased.
