To provide a method for producing N-alkylamines by subjecting amines having active hydrogen atoms in the amino groups, and an aliphatic alcohol to a dehydration reaction in a supercritical or subcritical alcoholic fluid.
(A) One of amines, having one or more active hydrogens in the amino group (e.g. monoethanolamine) and (B) an aliphatic alcohol (e.g. 1,2-butanediol) are subjected to a dehydration reaction in (C) a supercritical or subcritical alcoholic fluid preferably in the presence of (D) an oxide catalyst (e.g. alumina, titania and zirconia). The reaction is preferably carried out at a temperature of ≥0.85 time as high as the critical temperature in Kelvin of the component B and under a high pressure of ≥0.5 time as high as the critical pressure of the component B in the component C. Especially, a catalyst including an alkali metal (e.g. lithium and sodium) and phosphorus is preferable as the component D.
ONDA YOSHIYUKI
TSUNEKI HIDEAKI
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