A process for preparing high molecular weight, branched, acyclic polyalkyleneamines comprising transaminating a reaction mixture that includes at least a first polyalkyleneamine component that contains at least two non-tertiary amine groups separated from one another by a ternary or higher carbon atom and a second polyalkyleneamine component having the formula wherein x, y, and z are the same or different and are integers of from 1 to 10; a, b, c, d, e, and f are the same or different and are H or hydrocarbyl of from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; A, B, C, D, E, are the same or different and are H or hydrocarbyl of from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; provided that at least two of the amine groups are primary or secondary. ##STR00001##

A process for preparing high molecular weight, branched, acyclic polyalkyleneamines comprising transaminating a reaction mixture that includes at least a first polyalkyleneamine component that contains at least two non-tertiary amine groups separated from one another by a ternary or higher carbon atom and a second polyalkyleneamine component having the formula wherein x, y, and z are the same or different and are integers of from 1 to 10; a, b, c, d, e, and f are the same or different and are H or hydrocarbyl of from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; A, B, C, D, E, are the same or different and are H or hydrocarbyl of from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; provided that at least two of the amine groups are primary or secondary. ##STR00001##

A process for preparing high molecular weight, branched, acyclic polyalkyleneamines comprising transaminating a reaction mixture that includes at least a first polyalkyleneamine component that contains at least two non-tertiary amine groups separated from one another by a ternary or higher carbon atom and a second polyalkyleneamine component having the formula wherein x, y, and z are the same or different and are integers of from 1 to 10; a, b, c, d, e, and f are the same or different and are H or hydrocarbyl of from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; A, B, C, D, E, are the same or different and are H or hydrocarbyl of from 1 to 10 carbon atoms; provided that at least two of the amine groups are primary or secondary. ##STR00001##

Tertiary amine catalysts having isocyanate reactive groups capable of forming thermally stable covalent bonds able to withstand temperatures from 120° C. and higher and up to 250° C. are disclosed. These catalyst can be used to produce polyurethane foam having the following desirable characteristics: a) very low chemical emissions over a wide range of environmental conditions and isocyanate indexes (e.g., indexes as low as 65 but higher than 60); b) sufficient hydrolytic stability to maintain the catalyst covalently bound to foam without leaching of tertiary amine catalyst when foam is exposed to water or aqueous solutions even at temperatures higher than ambient (temperature range 25° C. to 90° C.); and c) stable contact interface between the polyurethane polymer and other polymers (for example polycarbonate) with minimal migration of tertiary amine catalyst from polyurethane polymer to other polymers yielding no noticeable polymer deterioration at the point of contact even under conditions of heat and humidity.

Tertiary amine catalysts having isocyanate reactive groups capable of forming thermally stable covalent bonds able to withstand temperatures from 120° C. and higher and up to 250° C. are disclosed. These catalyst can be used to produce polyurethane foam having the following desirable characteristics: a) very low chemical emissions over a wide range of environmental conditions and isocyanate indexes (e.g., indexes as low as 65 but higher than 60); b) sufficient hydrolytic stability to maintain the catalyst covalently bound to foam without leaching of tertiary amine catalyst when foam is exposed to water or aqueous solutions even at temperatures higher than ambient (temperature range 25° C. to 90° C.); and c) stable contact interface between the polyurethane polymer and other polymers (for example polycarbonate) with minimal migration of tertiary amine catalyst from polyurethane polymer to other polymers yielding no noticeable polymer deterioration at the point of contact even under conditions of heat and humidity.

Tertiary amine catalysts having isocyanate reactive groups capable of forming thermally stable covalent bonds able to withstand temperatures from 120° C. and higher and up to 250° C. are disclosed. These catalyst can be used to produce polyurethane foam having the following desirable characteristics: a) very low chemical emissions over a wide range of environmental conditions and isocyanate indexes (e.g., indexes as low as 65 but higher than 60); b) sufficient hydrolytic stability to maintain the catalyst covalently bound to foam without leaching of tertiary amine catalyst when foam is exposed to water or aqueous solutions even at temperatures higher than ambient (temperature range 25° C. to 90° C.); and c) stable contact interface between the polyurethane polymer and other polymers (for example polycarbonate) with minimal migration of tertiary amine catalyst from polyurethane polymer to other polymers yielding no noticeable polymer deterioration at the point of contact even under conditions of heat and humidity.

A process is provided for converting cyclic alkyleneureas into their corresponding alkyleneamines. The process includes, in a first step, converting cyclic alkyleneureas into their corresponding alkyleneamines by reacting cyclic alkyleneureas in the liquid phase with water with removal of CO2, so as to convert from about 5 mole % to about 95 mole % of alkyleneurea moieties in the feedstock to the corresponding amines. The process further includes, in a second step, adding an inorganic base and reacting cyclic alkylene ureas remaining from the first step with the inorganic base to convert them partially or completely into their corresponding alkyleneamines. Certain embodiments of the two-step process obtain a high conversion of cyclic alkyleneureas, while using substantially less strong inorganic base. Certain embodiments of the process process also show a higher selectivity to amines than prior art processes.

A process is provided for converting cyclic alkyleneureas into their corresponding alkyleneamines. The process includes, in a first step, converting cyclic alkyleneureas into their corresponding alkyleneamines by reacting cyclic alkyleneureas in the liquid phase with water with removal of CO2, so as to convert from about 5 mole % to about 95 mole % of alkyleneurea moieties in the feedstock to the corresponding amines. The process further includes, in a second step, adding an inorganic base and reacting cyclic alkylene ureas remaining from the first step with the inorganic base to convert them partially or completely into their corresponding alkyleneamines. Certain embodiments of the two-step process obtain a high conversion of cyclic alkyleneureas, while using substantially less strong inorganic base. Certain embodiments of the process process also show a higher selectivity to amines than prior art processes.

The invention pertains to a process for converting a feedstock comprising cyclic alkyleneureas into their corresponding alkyleneamines, comprising —a CO2 removal step in which cyclic alkyleneureas are converted into their corresponding alkyleneamines by reacting cyclic alkyleneureas in the liquid phase with water with removal of CO2, —an amine removal step wherein cyclic alkyleneureas are converted in a reactive separation process into their corresponding alkyleneamines by reaction with an amine compound selected from the group of primary amines or secondary amines which have a higher boiling point than the alkyleneamines formed during the process. It has been found that the combination of a CO2 removal step and an amine removal step makes it possible to convert alkyleneureas into the corresponding amines in an efficient manner in a high reaction rate.

The invention pertains to a process for converting a feedstock comprising cyclic alkyleneureas into their corresponding alkyleneamines, comprising —a CO2 removal step in which cyclic alkyleneureas are converted into their corresponding alkyleneamines by reacting cyclic alkyleneureas in the liquid phase with water with removal of CO2, —an amine removal step wherein cyclic alkyleneureas are converted in a reactive separation process into their corresponding alkyleneamines by reaction with an amine compound selected from the group of primary amines or secondary amines which have a higher boiling point than the alkyleneamines formed during the process. It has been found that the combination of a CO2 removal step and an amine removal step makes it possible to convert alkyleneureas into the corresponding amines in an efficient manner in a high reaction rate.