Catalytic Synthesis of Higher Aliphatic Amines from the Corresponding Alcohols

Abstract Aliphatic amines are of considerable industrial importance and find application in almost every field of modern technology, agriculture, and medicine [1], Lower aliphatic amines (C1 to C6) are important intermediates for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. A large number of drugs, herbicides, pesticides, dyes, and other chemicals contain amino pups which originate from reactions with such intermediates, Many important applications of higher aliphatic amines (fatty amines) and their derivatives (most important derivatives are quarternary ammonium compounds) are based on their cationic surface activity. Relatively small amounts of such compounds are usually required to achieve the desired changes in surface and colloidal properties. Thus, not surprising, one of the first applications of fatty amines was in the flotation separation of nonmetallic materials such as potash, feldspar, phosphate, and mica. Today, probably the biggest demand for fatty amines lies in the production of fabric softeners. There are other important applications for aliphatic amines in the plastics and protective coat industries as emulsion stabilizers, mold release agents, pigment dispersers, and flushing agents. They are used as catalysts for polyurethane production. For granular products, alkylamines are used as anticaking and antidusting agents. In the rubber industry they are used as oxidation inhibitors and catalysts for accelerating vulcanization. Aliphatic amines find also many applications in the petroleum industry, especially as corrosion inhibitors and as components of lubricating oils, greases, and fuel oil where they act as sludge dispersants and stabilizers. They are added to gasoline as corrosion inhibitors.