METHYLATION OF N-BUTYLAMINE OVER SOLID-ACID CATALYSTS

N,N-dimethyl-n-butylamine was synthesized with a good yield by the rea ction between n-butylamine and methanol over a variety of solid-acid c atalysts. Activity measurements were carried out with a flow reactor i n the temperature range between 220 and 340-degrees-C. The measured ca talytic activity was found to decrease in the order: rare-earth ion-ex changed zeolite Y almost-equal-to zeolite beta > TiO2-ZrO2 > Zeolite N aY almost-equal-to zeolite mordenite > low sodium gamma-alumina > zeol ite X > silica-alumina > high sodium gamma-alumina > zeolite L > zeoli te 5A. Comparisons between the activity measurements and temperature-p rogrammed desorption studies suggested that the n-butylamine methylati on rate was highly dependent on the strength of acid sites.