Patent ID: 8071814

Claim:
A process for preparing an amine of the formula I R 2 (NR 1 R 3 ) n (I) wherein n is a number from 1 to 20, R 2 is an organic radical which comprises between 2 and 600 oxyalkylene groups, and R 1 and R 3 are the same or different and are each hydrogen or an organic radical having from 1 to 400 carbon atoms, comprising the step of combining a compound of the formula 2 with a compound of the formula 3 R 2 (OH) n (3) in the presence of hydrogen with a catalyst which is metallic and whose metal content, based on the dry, reduced catalyst excluding any support material present, either is at least 80% cobalt by mass or, in the case of the Raney catalysts is at least 80% cobalt and aluminum by mass, and which contains less than 5% by mass of copper.