DIRECT SYNTHESIS OF ASYMMETRIC AMINES R2NR' IN THE PRESENCE OF MULTIFUNCTIONAL COPPER-BASED CATALYSTS

Multifunctional copper chromite catalysts doped with barium and dispersed on a graphite support were used in the synthesis of dimethyldodecylamine and/or methyldidodecylamine from lauronitrile, ammonia, hydrogen and methanol. The reaction was carried out at 5 MPa and 250-degrees-C. From XPS characterization of the catalysts, we observed that the promoter and the preparation method have an important effect on the surface composition and on the catalytic properties. Zero-valent copper increases the selectivity to tridodecylamine, which could be formed via a transalkylation reaction of the didodecylamine. On the other hand, the surface formation of a BaalphaCubetaCrgammaO4 phase (resulting from the insertion of barium in the CuCrO2 phase) significantly increases the selectivity to dimethyldodecylamine.