Patent ID: 7767858

Claim:
A process for forming a secondary diamine, which process comprises mixing together at least one hydrocarbyl ketone or hydrocarbyl aldehyde, hydrogen, at least one primary diamine, and sulfided platinum on carbon, sulfided palladium on carbon, or a mixture thereof, wherein said primary diamine is an aliphatic primary diamine, wherein said aliphatic primary diamine is isophorone diamine, 1,6-diaminohexane, or 3(4),8(9)-bis-(aminomethyl)-tricyclo[5.2.1.0(2,6)]decane, wherein said ketone or aldehyde is a ketone, wherein when said aliphatic primary diamine is isophorone diamine, said ketone is 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanone, methyl isobutyl ketone, or 4-heptanone, wherein when said aliphatic primary diamine is 1,6-diaminohexane, said ketone is 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanone, wherein when said aliphatic primary diamine is 3(4),8(9)-bis-(aminomethyl)-tricyclo[5.2.1.0(2,6)]decane, said ketone is 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanone, and wherein said process is conducted at a temperature in the range of about 20° C. to about 140° C. and at a hydrogen pressure in the range of about 14 to about 150 pounds per square inch, such that a secondary diamine is formed.