Patent ID: 6576795
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: B01J,C07B,C07C

Abstract:
A process for racemizing optically active amines of the formula I where R1 and R2 are different and R1, R2, R3 are alkyl, cycloalkyl, arylalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl and heterocyclic radicals and R3 may also be hydrogen (H), with the radicals being able to bear substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, amino, alkylamino and dialkylamino, by reacting the optically active amine I in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrogenation or dehydrogenation catalyst at elevated temperature, wherein the catalyst after drying and before activation with a reducing agent comprisesfrom 20 to 90% by weight of oxygen-containing compounds of copper, calculated as CuO, from 9 to 60% by weight of oxygen-containing compounds of zinc, calculated as ZnO, and from 1 to 60% by weight of aluminum oxide, calculated as Al2O3, in each case based on the total weight of all oxidic constituents of the catalyst.