| abstract |
A process for producing a heterocyclic tertiary amine of the formula (III): <CHEM> wherein A is a nitrogen atom or C-R<5>, B is a nitrogen atom or C-R<6>, ---- is a single bond or a double bond, and each of R<1>, R<2>, R<3>, R<4>, R<5> and R<6> which may be the same or different, is a hydrogen atom , an acyl group, a halogen atom, a cyano group, etc., provided that two of R<1>, R<2>, R<3> and R<4> may together form a 3-membered, 4-membered, 5-membered or 6-membered aliphatic ring, a heterocyclic ring or aromatic ring, and R<7> is a C1-6 alkyl group which may be substituted, etc., which process comprises reacting a heterocyclic secondary amine of the formula (I): <CHEM> wherein A, B, ----, R<1>, R<2>, R<3> and R<4> are as defined above, with an alkylating agent of the formula (II): R<7>-X (II> wherein R<7> is as defined above, and X is a hydroxyl group, a halogen atom, a OSO3R<7> group, a OSO2R<7> group, a OCO2R<7> group, a OCOR<7> group, a OP(O)(OR<7>) group, a OP(O)O(R<7>)2 group or an amino group, in the presence of a catalyst of Group VIII of the Periodic Table. |