Catalytic Aminomethylation of Alkenoic Compounds: I. Reaction of monoolefins with secondary amines,carbon monoxide,and water in the presence of rhodium and iron catalysts

Reactions, in the presence of rhodium oxide and/or iron pentacarbonyl, of cyclic or acyclic higher olefins with carbon monoxide, water, and secondary amines to give the corresponding aminomethyl-cycloalkanes or -alkanes (equ. 1) are described. As catalyst rhodium oxide is by far superior to iron carbonyl; however, optimum results are obtained with combinations of the two. The method can be applied to synthesis of long-chain alkylamines, which are valuable as intermediates for synthetic detergents.