Process for producing an aliphatic amine

Claim 2

In a process for preparing an aliphatic amine having the formula (IV) ##STR4## wherein R 1 is a straight chain or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group having 7 to 23 carbon atoms, and R 2 and R 3 each is hydrogen or a straight chain or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms; which comprises reacting an aliphatic alcohol or an aliphatic aldehyde having the formulas (I) or (II), respectively, ##STR5## wherein R 1 is the same as defined above; with ammonia or a primary or secondary aliphatic amine having the following general formula (III) ##STR6## wherein R 2 and R 3 are the same as defined above; at a temperature of 100° to 350° C., in the presence of a catalyst, the improvement which comprises: said catalyst is a homogeneous colloidal catalyst prepared by reducing with hydrogen or other reducing agent, a mixture of component A and component B wherein said component A is one member or a mixture of two or more members selected from the group consisting of inner complex salts of copper, inner complex salts of silver, carboxylates of copper and carboxylates of silver, and said component B is one member or a mixture of two or more members selected from the group consisting of inner complex salts of an element selected from the group consisting of the elements of Group VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements, manganese and zinc, and carboxylates of said element, with the proviso that among the two kind of components A and B, one component is an inner complex salt and the other is a said carboxylate.

Claim 3

In a process for preparing an aliphatic amine having the formula (IV) ##STR7## wherein R 1 is a straight chain or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group having 7 to 23 carbon atoms, and R 2 and R 3 each is hydrogen or a straight chain or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms; which comprises reacting an aliphatic alcohol or an aliphatic aldehyde having the formulas (I) or (II), respectively, ##STR8## wherein R 1 is the same as defined above; with ammonia or a primary or secondary aliphatic amine having the following general formula (III) ##STR9## wherein R 2 and R 3 each are the same as defined above; at a temperature of 100° to 350° C., in the presence of a catalyst, the improvement which comprises: said catalyst is a homogeneous colloidal catalyst prepared by reducing with hydrogen or other reducing agent, a mixture of component A and component C, wherein said component A is one member or a mixture of two or more members selected from the group consisting of inner complex salts of copper, innter complex salts of silver, carboxylates of copper and carboxylates of silver, and said component C is one member or a mixture of two or more members selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, carboxylates of alkali metals and carboxylates of alkaline earth metals.

Claim 4

In a process for preparing an aliphatic amine having the formula (IV) ##STR7## wherein R 1 is a straight chain or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group having 7 to 23 carbon atoms, and R 2 and R 3 each is hydrogen or a straight chain or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms; which comprises reacting an aliphatic alcohol or an aliphatic aldehyde having the formulas (I) or (II), respectively, ##STR8## wherein R 1 is the same as defined above; with ammonia or a primary or secondary aliphatic amine having the following general formula (III) ##STR9## wherein R 2 and R 3 each are the same as defined above; at a temperature of 100° to 350° C., in the presence of a catalyst, the improvement which comprises: said catalyst is a homogeneous colloidal catalyst prepared by reducing with hydrogen or other reducing agent, a mixture of component A and component C, wherein said component A is one member or a mixture of two or more members selected from the group consisting of inner complex salts of copper, innter complex salts of silver, carboxylates of copper and carboxylates of silver, and said component C is one member or a mixture of two or more members selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, carboxylates of alkali metals and carboxylates of alkaline earth metals.

Claim 5

A process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the ligand material forming said inner complex salt is a β-diketone.

Claim 6

A process according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said fatty acid and the carboxylic acid moiety of said carboxylates are carboxylic acids having 5 to 36 carbon atoms.

Claim 7

A process according to claim 4 wherein said carboxylic acid moiety of said carboxylates is an aliphatic carboxylic acid having 5 to 22 carbon atoms.

Claim 8

A process according to claim 3 wherein ligand material forming said inner complex salt is acetylacetone.

Claim 9

A process according to claim 1 wherein said elements of Group VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements are nickel, cobalt, iron or palladium.

Claim 10

In a process for preparing an aliphatic amine having the formula (IV) ##STR10## wherein R 1 is a straight chain or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group having 7 to 23 carbon atoms, and R 2 and R 3 each is hydrogen or a straight chain or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms; which comprises reacting an aliphatic alcohol or an aliphatic aldehyde having the formulas (I) or (II), respectively, ##STR11## wherein R 1 is the same as defined above; with ammonia or a primary or secondary aliphatic amine having the following general formula (III) ##STR12## wherein R 2 and R 3 are the same as defined above; at a temperature of 100° to 350° C., in the presence of a catalyst, the improvement which comprises: said catalyst is a homogeneous colloidal catalyst prepared by reducing with hydrogen or other reducing agent, a mixture of component A, component B and component C, wherein said component A is one member or a mixture of two or more members selected from the group consisting of inner complex salts of copper, inner complex salts of silver, carboxylates of copper and carboxylates of silver, said component B is one member or a mixture of two or more members selected from the group consisting of inner complex salts of an element selected from the group consisting of the elements of Group VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements, manganese and zinc, and carboxylates of said element, and said component C is one member or a mixture of two or more members selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, carboxylates of alkali metals and carboxylates of alkaline earth metals, with the proviso that said mixture contains at least one of said inner complex salts.

Claim 11

In a process for preparing an aliphatic amine having the formula (IV) ##STR10## wherein R 1 is a straight chain or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group having 7 to 23 carbon atoms, and R 2 and R 3 each is hydrogen or a straight chain or branched chain, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms; which comprises reacting an aliphatic alcohol or an aliphatic aldehyde having the formulas (I) or (II), respectively, ##STR11## wherein R 1 is the same as defined above; with ammonia or a primary or secondary aliphatic amine having the following general formula (III) ##STR12## wherein R 2 and R 3 are the same as defined above; at a temperature of 100° to 350° C., in the presence of a catalyst, the improvement which comprises: said catalyst is a homogeneous colloidal catalyst prepared by reducing with hydrogen or other reducing agent, a mixture of component A, component B and component C, wherein said component A is one member or a mixture of two or more members selected from the group consisting of inner complex salts of copper, inner complex salts of silver, carboxylates of copper and carboxylates of silver, said component B is one member or a mixture of two or more members selected from the group consisting of inner complex salts of an element selected from the group consisting of the elements of Group VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements, manganese and zinc, and carboxylates of said element, and said component C is one member or a mixture of two or more members selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, carboxylates of alkali metals and carboxylates of alkaline earth metals, with the proviso that said mixture contains at least one of said inner complex salts.

Claim 12

A process according to claim 8 wherein the ligand material forming said inner complex salt is a β-diketone.

Claim 13

A process according to claim 9 wherein the ligand material forming said inner complex salt is acetylacetone.

Claim 14

A process according to claim 8 wherein said fatty acid and the carboxylic acid moiety of said carboxylates are carboxylic acids having 5 to 36 carbon atoms.

Claim 15

A process according to claim 11 wherein said carboxylic acid moiety of said carboxylates is an aliphatic carboxylic acid having 5 to 22 carbon atoms.

Claim 16

A process according to claim 8 wherein said elements of Group VIII of the Periodic Table of Elements are nickel, cobalt, iron or palladium.

Claim 17

A process according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 8 wherein the amount of said catalyst is from 0.001 to 5 wt. %, calculated as the metal, based on the weight of the starting alcohol or aldehyde.

Claim 18

A process according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 8 wherein the amount of said catalyst is from 0.01 to 1.0 wt. %, calculated as the metal, based on the weight of the starting alcohol or aldehyde.

Claim 19

A process according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 8 wherein said catalyst is dissolved in said alcohol or aldehyde in the liquid phase, then hydrogen gas is flowed through the solution of said catalyst in said alcohol or said aldehyde, at a temperature of from about 100° to 200° C. until said catalyst material is reduced and is transformed to a homogeneous colloidal state in said alcohol or aldehyde, and then said ammonia or said primary or secondary aliphatic amine in a gaseous state is bubbled through said alcohol or aldehyde in the liquid phase.