Alkylated polyalkylene polyamines and process for selective alkylation.

摘要

A branched chain polyalkylene polyamine ("PAPA") having plural amine groups, including a secondary amine group intermediate terminal primary amine groups one of which is hindered, and having at least two carbon atoms between each group, is selectively reductively alkylated with a ketone. The reaction provides a convenient method for selectively reductively alkylating a PAPA having a hindered primary amine group, the method comprising contacting the PAPA with hydrogen and the ketone in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a Group VIII metal on a catalyst support, at a pressure in the range from about 100-1000 psi and a temperature in the range from about 50 DEG C to about 200 DEG C for a period of time sufficient to preferentially alkylate the unhindered amine primary terminal amine group. The alkylation proceeds essentially without alkylating either the sterically hindered terminal primary amine group or the intermediate unhindered secondary amine group. Cross-Reference to Related Applications: This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 786,765 filed October 11, 1985, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 664,901 filed October 26, 1984, now issued as U.S. Patent No. 4,547,538 which is in turn a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 350,536 filed February 2, 1982 now issued as U.S. Patent No. 4,480,092.