Process for producing 1,2-substituted imidazoline compounds

摘要

A 1,2-substituted imidazoline compound having the formula (I): <IMAGE> (I) in which R2 is an alkyl or alkenyl group having 8 to 22 carbon atoms and n is 2 or 3, is produced by (1) feeding in a reactor a dialkylenetriamine (II) with a higher fatty acid of R2COOH or an ester thereof (III) at a molar ratio of the compound (III) to the compound (II) in the range of 1.5:1 to 1.8:1, (2) effecting the reaction at an internal temperature of 100 DEG to 250 DEG C. at a reduced pressure, (3) adding to the reaction mixture so that the above defined molar ratio in total may reach at least 2.0:1 and (4) continuing the reaction at an internal temperature of 100 DEG to 250 DEG C. at a reduced pressure. The reaction proceeds with a high yield of the product (I), without by-production to primary and second amines.