METHYLATION OF N-BUTYLAMINE OVER SOLID-ACID CATALYSTS

N,N-dimethyl-n-butylamine was synthesized with a good yield by the reaction between n-butylamine and methanol over a variety of solid-acid catalysts. Activity measurements were carried out with a flow reactor in the temperature range between 220 and 340-degrees-C. The measured catalytic activity was found to decrease in the order: rare-earth ion-exchanged zeolite Y almost-equal-to zeolite beta > TiO2-ZrO2 > Zeolite NaY almost-equal-to zeolite mordenite > low sodium gamma-alumina > zeolite X > silica-alumina > high sodium gamma-alumina > zeolite L > zeolite 5A. Comparisons between the activity measurements and temperature-programmed desorption studies suggested that the n-butylamine methylation rate was highly dependent on the strength of acid sites.