Use of pressure to control the noncyclics/cyclics ration of polyalkylene amines.

摘要

A process for producing polyalkylene polyamines by reacting an alkylenamine compound having at least two amino groups and an alkanolamine having at least one amino group. The molecular ratio of produced noncyclic polyalkylene polyamines to produced cyclic polyalkylene polyamines is controlled as desired by controlling the pressure at which the reaction is conducted. For example, raising the pressure increases the mole ratio of noncyclics to cyclics. The reaction is conducted in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a phosphorus-containing catalyst at a temperature and pressure sufficient to form the polyalkylene polyamines. The reaction is preferably conducted in the gaseous phase.