Catalytic reductive amination of butyraldehyde

Abstract

1. The reductive animation of butyraldehyde with hydrogen in presence of nickel-alumina catalysts was investigated. 2. A catalyst containing 7.5% of reduced nickel on active alumina operating at the optimum temperature of 240° was found to be the most effective. 3. The relation of the relative amounts of amines formed to the space velocity and the relative amounts of aldehyde and ammonia was determined. 4. The non-amine part of the catalyzate contains mainly butyronitrile, which appears to be an intermediate product in the formation of amines.