Ortho-alkylation of aromatic amines.

摘要

A catalyst useful in the preparation of ortho-alkylated aromatic amines is prepared by heating an amine in the presence of aluminum metal, zinc metal and aluminum chloride. This catalyst is used to alkylate aromatic amines which may be the same as or different from the amine used in the catalyst preparation. In a preferred embodiment, a catalyst is prepared from aluminum, zinc, aluminum chloride and an amine selected from toluenediamine, diethyltoluenediamine and mixtures thereof. The catalyst is useful in the ethylation of toluenediamine to form diethyltoluenediamine.