Patent ID: 8501997

Claim:
A process for producing amines having the formula: the process comprising: (a) contacting a compound having the formula: with methylamine or ethylamine in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst at a hydrogen pressure of about 100 to about 500 psi to form at least one intermediate product; and (b) contacting the at least one intermediate product with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst at a hydrogen pressure of about 400 to about 1500 psi to form the amines having formula (I); wherein: R A is methyl; R B is methyl; R c in each occurrence is selected independently from a linear or branched C 1 -C 18 alkyl, a linear or branched C 1 -C 18 alkenyl, a linear or branched C 1 -C 18 alkoxy, and a linear or branched C 1 -C 18 alkoxyalkyl; and x is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; wherein the at least one intermediate product comprises ammonia and unreacted mono-methylamine, and wherein at least 50% by weight of the ammonia and unreacted mono-methylamine in the at least one intermediate product is removed prior to step (b).