Process for the preparation of enamines or imines

Claim 1

A process for preparing an enamine represented by formula (II): ##STR57## wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are each hydrogen, an alkyl group containing from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group containing up to 12 carbon atoms, or a phenyl group, wherein R 1 may be substituted by one hydroxy group; R 5 is hydrogen, an alkyl group containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or a cycloalkyl group containing from 6 to 8 carbon atoms; R 6 is an alkyl group containing from 1 to 8 carbon atoms or a cycloalkyl group containing from 6 to 8 carbon atoms; or R 5 and R 6 may combine together in combination with the adjacent nitrogen atom to form pyrrolidine, piperidine or morpholine; or an imine represented by formula (III): ##STR58## wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 and R 6 are the same as for formula (II), isomerizing an allylamine derivative represented by formula (I): ##STR59## wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 and R 6 are the same as for formula (II), using as a catalyst a rhodium complex represented by formula (IV): [Rh(olefin)L].sup.+ X.sup.- wherein olefin represents ethylene, 1,3-butadiene, norbornadiene or cycloocta-1,5-diene; X represents ClO 4 , BF 4 or PF 6 ; and L represents two triarylphosphines wherein the aryl moiety is a phenyl, a tolyl or a naphthyl group or a tri-valent phosphorous compound derivative represented by formula (V): (aryl).sub.2 --P--Y--P--(aryl).sub.2 (V) wherein the aryl moiety is a phenyl, an ortho-tolyl or a metal-tolyl group, or (aryl) 2 is a 2,2'-biphenyl group and Y represents -(CH 2 ) 3 --, --(CH 2 ) 4 --, --(CH 2 ) 5 --, ##STR60##