Shape-Selective Reactions for Methylamine Synthesis from Methanol and Ammonia

Methylamine syntheses from methanol and ammonia on various zeolite catalysts have been studied. The mordenite catalysts were treated with silicon tetrachloride in sodium-form and then ion-exchanged to the acid-form; such catalysts have been shown to suppress trimethylamine production almost completely, and to generate enhanced yields of dimethylamine and mono-methylamine. The formation of trimethylamine has been extremely retarded, because the pore openings of the catalyst are smaller than trimethylamine molecules. The adsorption data of methylamines suggest that the more bulky base molecules, such as trimethylamine, cannot penetrate into mordenite channels after treatment with silicon tetrachloride.