| abstract |
Aromatic diamines, such as toluenediamine, are alkylated in the ortho position by heating an aromatic diamine in the presence of an aluminum alloy, aluminum chloride and zinc, and then reacting with an alkene at elevated temperatures and pressures. In one embodiment, toluenediamine, diethyltoluenediamine or mixtures thereof are heated with an aluminum alloy, aluminum chloride and zinc having an average particle diameter of from 75 to 850 microns, 20 to 200 mesh, U.S. Standard to form a catalyst system. This is reacted with ethene and toluenediamine to form diethyltoluenediamine. |