| abstract |
A process for preparing dialkylamides of the alkali metals by reacting the corresponding dialkylamine with the corresponding alkali metal in the presence of an electron-donating substance selected from the group consisting of 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, naphthalene and styrene with formation of small amounts of butenyldialkylamine comprises suspending the corresponding alkali metal in a solvent and subsequently adding dialkylamine and electron-donating substance in such a way that the dialkylamine is present in an amount of up to 45% by weight, preferably up to 25% by, weight, in particular up to 15% by weight, and the butadiene is present in an amount of up to 5% by weight, preferably up to 3% by weight, in particular up to 1.5% by weight. |