One-step amination of α,ω-alkylenediols over Cu/Ni-based catalysts

One-step amination of α,ω-alkylenediols, HO-(CH2)n-OH (n = 6, 8, 9, 10, 12) and Me2NH to the corresponding di-tertiary amines (DAs, Me2N-(CH2)n-NMe2), was performed by using Cu/Ni-based colloidal catalysts and solid catalysts, and the activity of these catalysts was compared. The amination of the diols proceeded by the consecutive reaction mechanism via the formation of intermediate hydroxyl-tertiary amines (HAs, Me2N-(CH2)n-OH). The yield of DAs was about 90%.