Patent ID: 7388113

Claim:
A process for the synthesis of diimines comprising: a. contacting an alkylimino-monoketone, (III), with an alkylating agent to form the corresponding O-alkylated derivative, (IV); b. contacting the O-alkylated derivative, (IV), of step (a) with a primary alkyl amine, NH 2 R 13 , to form an immonium salt, (V); and c. contacting the immonium salt, (V), of step (b) with a strong base to form the corresponding neutral amino-imine (VI): wherein R 10 and R 11 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, C 1 -C 5 alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, and 4-pyridinyl; R 12 is Me or Et; R 9 and R 13 are independently selected from the group consisting of H and C 1 -C 5 alkyl, with the proviso that the total number of carbons in R 9 , R 10 , R 11 and R 13 is 4-12; the alkylating agent is selected from the group consisting of dimethyl sulfate, methyl benzenesulfonate, methyltoluenesulfonate, diethyl sulfate, ethylbenzenesulfonate, methyltrifluoromethanesulfonate and ethyl toluenesulfonate; and X − is an anion derived from the alkylating agent.