Amine salts of amino acids as delayed action catalysts

Claim 1

In a process for the production of a urethane composition by polymerizing an organic polyisocyanate, an organic compound having an active hydrogen atom, and an organometallic catalyst, the improvement which comprises using an effective proportion of a catalyst comprising an organometallic catalyst and an amine salt of an amino acid selected from the group represented by the formulas: ##STR2## wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 independently are alkylene groups having from 1 to 15 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl groups, phenyl groups and phenyl alkyl groups with the alkyl portion having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and R 4 is an alkylene radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; X is an amine salt of a carboxylic acid group; Y is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a carboxylic acid group, a nitrile group, or an amine salt of a carboxylic acid group; Z is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a carboxylic acid group, a nitrile group, or an amine salt of a carboxylic acid group; and n is 0 or 1; with the proviso that when X, Y, or Z is an amine salt of a carboxylic acid group, the carboxyl moiety is the linkage bonding the X, Y, or Z radical to the residue of the amine salt of formula I or II.