The selective preparation of n-propylamines by the rhodium catalysed reaction of ethylene and syngas with alkylamines

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-328X(89)87190-6

The aminoethylation of ethylene with a primary amine has been shown to provide a highly selective route to n-propylamines; the rhodium catalysed reaction of n-propylamine with ethylene and syngas (2/1, H2/CO) affords di-n-propylamine with 98percent selectivity (with respect to ethylene).The reaction of amines of the type RR¹NH with the ethylene/syngas mixture and a rhodium catalyst provides a highly selective and general route to the n-propylamines RR¹NPr (R=Pr, R¹=H; R=t-Bu, R¹=H; R=n-Bu, R¹=H; R=C8H17, R¹=H, R=R¹=Pr; R=HOCH2Ch2, R¹=H, and R=PhCH(OH)CH2, R¹=H).