Amine process using Cu-Sn-Na catalyst

Claim 2

A catalyst for the production of tertiary amines by reacting aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or araliphatic alcohols, aldehydes or ketones having up to twenty-five carbon atoms with ammonia, primary or secondary amines having from one to eight carbon atoms wherein the alkyl moiety of the alcohol, aldehyde or ketone replaces the hydrogen(s) on the ammonia, primary or secondary amines which comprises from about 0.05 to about 50 percent by weight of copper, from about 0.05 to about 50 percent by weight of tin and from about 0.003 to about 30 percent by weight of an alkaline metal supported on a porous carrier.

Claim 3

The catalyst of claim 1 wherein the copper ranges from about 0.5 to about 20 percent by weight, the tin ranges from about 0.5 to about 20 percent by weight and the alkali metal ranges from about 0.01 to about 10 percent by weight.

Claim 4

The catalyst of claim 2 wherein the copper ranges from about 1 to about 10 percent by weight, the tin ranges from about 0.5 to about 5 percent by weight and the alkali metal ranges from about 0.2 to about 5 percent by weight.

Claim 5

The catalyst of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the support is alumina.

Claim 6

The catalyst of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the support is gamma alumina.

Claim 7

The catalyst of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the support is silica.

Claim 8

The catalyst of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the alkali metal is sodium or potassium.

Claim 9

In the process for preparing tertiary amines by reacting aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or araliphatic alcohols, aldehydes or ketones having up to twenty-five carbon atoms with ammonia, primary or secondary amines having from one to eight carbon atoms in a reducing atmosphere at a temperature of from about 160° C. to about 350° C. wherein the alkyl moiety of the alcohol, aldehyde or ketone replaces the hydrogen(s) on the ammonia primary or secondary amine, the improvement which comprises carrying of the reaction in the presence of a catalyst comprising from about 0.05 to about 50 percent by weight of copper, from about 0.05 to about 50 percent by weight of tin and from about 0.003 to about 30 percent by weight of an alkali metal supported on a porous carrier.

Claim 10

In the process for preparing tertiary amines by reacting aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or araliphatic alcohols, aldehydes or ketones having up to twenty-five carbon atoms with ammonia, primary or secondary amines having from one to eight carbon atoms in a reducing atmosphere at a temperature of from about 160° C. to about 350° C. wherein the alkyl moiety of the alcohol, aldehyde or ketone replaces the hydrogen(s) on the ammonia primary or secondary amine, the improvement which comprises carrying of the reaction in the presence of a catalyst comprising from about 0.05 to about 50 percent by weight of copper, from about 0.05 to about 50 percent by weight of tin and from about 0.003 to about 30 percent by weight of an alkali metal supported on a porous carrier.

Claim 11

The process of claim 8 wherein the copper ranges from about 0.5 to about 20 percent by weight, the tin ranges from about 0.5 to about 20 percent by weight and the sodium ranges from about 0.01 to about 10 percent by weight.

Claim 12

The process of claim 9 wherein the copper ranges from about 1 to about 10 percent by weight, the tin ranges from about 0.5 to about 5 percent by weight and the alkali metal ranges from about 0.2 to about 5 percent by weight.

Claim 13

The process of claims 8, 9 or 10 wherein the support is alumina.

Claim 14

The process of claims 8, 9 or 10 wherein the support is gamma alumina.

Claim 15

The process of claims 8, 9 or 10 wherein the support is silica.

Claim 16

The process of claims 8, 9 or 10 wherein the alkali metal is sodium or potassium.

Claim 17

The process of claim 8, 9 or 10 wherein the reducing atmosphere is hydrogen.

Claim 18

The process of claims 8, 9 or 10 wherein the reducing atmosphere is hydrogen maintained at a partial pressure from about 15 to about 400 psi.

Claim 19

The process of claims 8, 9 or 10 wherein the temperature ranges from about 180° to about 300° C.

Claim 20

The process of claims 8, 9 or 10 wherein the temperature ranges from about 250° to about 300° C.