Secondary isopropyl amines derived from oxyalkylene triamines
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of copending Speranza et al. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/135,798 filed Dec. 21, 1987 and entitled &#34;Secondary Isopropyl Amine Derivatives of Polyoxyalkylene Diamines, and Triamine&#34;, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,688. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to secondary isopropyl amine derivatives of polyoxyalkylene primary diamines and triamines. More particularly, this invention relates to secondary isopropyl amine derivatives of polyoxyethylene and/or polyoxypropylene primary diamines or triamines prepared by the reaction of a polyoxyethylene and/or polyoxypropylene primary diamine or triamine with acetone in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst and hydrogen. Still more particularly, this invention relates to a method wherein an oxyethylene and/or an oxypropylene primary diamine or triamine having a molecular weight of about 100 to about 400 is reacted with acetone in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrogenation catalyst to provide a secondary isopropyl amine terminated oxyethylene and/or oxypropylene reaction product and to the use of such products as curing agents for epoxy resins. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Speranza et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,110,732 is directed to a method for preparing primary amine derivatives of polyoxyalkylene glycol by a three-step process wherein an alkanolamine having a primary amine group is reacted with a higher carbonyl compound such as methylethyl ketone, isobutyraldehyde, etc., to form a condensation product which may be either a Schiff base or an oxazolidine which is thereafter alkoxylated with an alkylene oxide to provide an adduct followed by hydrolysis of the adduct to form a primary amine basic polyether composition. 
     Speranza U.S. Pat. No. 3,364,239 is directed to secondary amino polyalkoxy monoalkanols which are prepared by reacting a primary amino polyalkoxy alkanol with a higher carbonyl compound such as methylethyl ketone, butyraldehyde, etc., to form a Schiff base reaction product which is thereafter hydrogenated in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst at an elevated temperature and pressure to provide the secondary amino polyalkoxy monoalkanol. 
     Malz, Jr. et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,104 is directed to a process wherein 2,2,6,6-tetraalkyl-4-piperidylamines are prepared by reacting an amine with 2,2,6,6-tetraalkyl-4-piperidone in the presence of water, an aliphatic alcohol or aliphatic glycol and a platinum, nickel or cobalt catalyst. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     As exemplified by the Speranza and Speranza et al. patents, it is known that when a higher ketone such as methylethyl ketone is reacted with a primary amine the reaction product is a Schiff base or an oxazolidine. This Schiff base may thereafter be hydrogenated to provide a secondary amino polyalkoxy alkanol. Thus, a two-step reaction is required. Moreover, acetone is not a suitable ketone for the use in a two-step reaction of this nature because of its boiling point. 
     It has now been surprisingly discovered that when an oxyethylene and/or an oxypropylene primary diamine or triamine is reacted with acetone in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst and hydrogen, secondary isopropylamine terminated oxyethylene and/or oxypropylene primary diamines and triamines can be formed in one step. The oxyethylene and/or oxypropylene primary diamine or triamine should have a molecular weight within the range of about 100 to about 400, the ratio of acetone to primary diamine or triamine starting material should be within the range of about 1.5 to about 3 mole equivalents of acetone per mole of primary amine group present in the primary diamine or triamine and the reaction should be conducted at a temperature within the range of about 50° to about 200° C. and a pressure within the range of about 100 to about 4000 psig., including a hydrogen partial pressure of about 50 to about 2,500 psi. 
     The secondary isopropylamine derivatives that are prepared by the process have been found to be useful as flexible curing agents for epoxy resins. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The starting materials for the present invention are an oxypropylene and/or an oxyethylene primary diamine or triamine having a molecular weight of 100 to about 400, acetone, hydrogen and a hydrogenation catalyst. 
     The Oxyalkylene Primary Diamine and Triamine Starting Materials 
     The oxyalkylene polyamine starting materials for the present invention are selected from the group consisting of oxypropylene diamines and triamines, and oxyethylene diamines, such as bisaminoethyl ether, triethylene glycol diamine, etc., and oxyalkylene diamines and triamines containing mixtures of both ethylene oxide and propylene oxide and, preferably, mixtures of from about 5 to about 40 wt. % of ethylene oxide with, correspondinqly, from about 95 to 60 wt. % of propylene oxide. Where mixed propylene oxide/ethylene oxide polyols are employed, the ethylene oxide and propylene oxide may be premixed prior to reaction to form a hetero copolymer, or the ethylene oxide and the propylene oxide may be sequentially added to the ethoxylation kettle to form block oxypropylene/oxyethylene copolymers. 
     The oxyalkylene primary polyamine starting material is selected from the group consisting of oxyalkylene primary diamines and triamines having the formula: ##STR1## 
     Wherein R is either an alkoxy group of an oxyalkylation-susceptible polyhydric alcohol containing 2 to 12 carbon atoms and 2 or 3 hydroxyl groups and m is an integer having a value of 2 to 3, or R is oxygen and m is an integer having a value of 2, and R&#39; is hydrogen or methyl, and n is a number sufficient to impart an average molecular weight of about 100 to about 400 to the molecule. 
     The N-isopropyl secondary amino derivatives of the starting material will have the formula: ##STR2## 
     Wherein R, R&#39;, n and m have the meaning given above and wherein at least one of R&#39;&#34; represents an isopropyl group and the remaining of R&#39;&#34; represent hydrogen or an isopropyl group. 
     One group of appropriate oxyalkylene diamine starting materials that may be used are those that are sold by the Texaco Chemical Company as Jeffamine® D-series products having the formula: ##STR3## 
     Wherein R&#39; independently represents hydrogen or methyl and n is a number having an average value of about 1 to about 6. 
     With these starting materials, the N-isopropyl secondary amine derivatives will have the formula: ##STR4## 
     Wherein R&#39; and n have the meaning given above for formula III and wherein at least one of R&#39;&#34; represents an isopropyl group and the other R&#39;&#34; represents hydrogen or an isopropyl group. 
     Representative starting materials having structural formula III include oxypropylene diamines (wherein R&#39; is methyl) having an average molecular weight of about 230 wherein the value of x is between 2 and 3 (Jeffamine® D-230 amine sold by Texaco Chemical Company), and oxypropylene diamines having an average molecular weight of about 400 wherein x has a value between about 5 and 6 (Jeffamine® D-400 amine sold by Texaco Chemical Company). 
     As other examples, the primary amine starting material may be triethylene glycol diamine (sold commercially by Texaco Chemical Company as Jeffamine® EDR-148) and tetraethylene glycol diamine (sold by Texaco Chemical Company commercially as Jeffamine® EDR-192). 
     Representative oxyalkyene primary triamine feedstocks that may be used in accordance with the present invention include oxyethylene primary triamines and oxypropylene primary triamines having the formula: ##STR5## 
     Wherein A represents the nucleus of an oxyalkylation susceptible trihydric alcohol containing about 3 to about 6 carbon atoms, w, y and z are integers and the average value of w+y+z is sufficient to impart an average molecular weight of about 220 to 400 to the oxypropylene primary triamine starting material and R&#39; represents hydrogen or a methyl group. 
     With the group of oxypropylene triamine starting materials represented by formula V, the N-isopropyl secondary amino derivatives will have the formula: ##STR6## 
     Wherein A, R&#39;, w, y and z have the meaning given above in formula V and wherein at least one of R&#39;&#34; represents an isopropyl group and the remainder of R&#39;&#34; represents hydrogen or an isopropyl group. 
     An example of such a feedstock (formula V) is a commercial product manufactured and sold by the Texaco Chemical Company having an average molecular weight of about 400 wherein A represents a trimethylol propane nucleus and R represents methyl (Jeffamine® T-403 amine). 
     Acetone 
     Secondary isopropylamine derivatives of the primary diamine and triamine starting materials are prepared by reacting the diamine or triamine starting material with acetone. 
     It is important that the acetone be utilized in the right proportions if the desired products are to be obtained with good yield and selectivity. Thus, from about 1 to about 2 mole equivalents of acetone should be used for each mole equivalent of primary amine group in the primary amine starting material. For example, if the starting material is a polyoxyalkylene primary diamine, from about 2 to about 4 moles of acetone should be used per mole of diamine starting material. For a triamine, the molar ratio would be within the range of about 3:1 to about 6:1. 
     Ketones other than acetone or aldehydes do not give equivalent results. Thus, either a loss of yield and/or selectivity will be experienced when the reaction parameters of the present invention are used with other ketones or with aldehydes. 
     Hydrogen 
     The acetone is reacted with the oxyalkylene primary diamine or triamine starting material in the presence of added hydrogen. The reaction is conducted at an elevated temperature and pressure. Normally, the reactants can be pressured at a desired pressure with hydrogen and hydrogen may be used thereafter to maintain the pressure so that the reaction pressure and the hydrogen partial pressure will be essentially the same. The reaction pressure should be within the range of about 100 to about 4000 psi., including a hydrogen partial pressure of about 50 to about 2,500. 
     The Hydrogenation Catalyst 
     Any suitable hydrogenation catalyst may be used such as a catalyst comprising one or more of the metals of group VIIIB of the Periodic Table, such as iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, platinum, mixed with one or more metals of group VIB of the Periodic Table such as chromium, molybdenum or tungsten. A promoter from group IB of the Periodic Table, such as copper, may also be included. As an example, a catalyst may be used comprising from about 60 to 85 mole percent of nickel, about 14 to 37 mole percent of copper and about 1 to about 5 mole percent of chromium (as chromia), such as a catalyst disclosed in Moss U.S. Pat. No. 3,151,112 or Yeakey U.S. Pat. No. 3,654,370. As another example, a catalyst of the type disclosed in Boettger et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,933 may be used containing from about 70 to about 95 wt. % of a mixture of cobalt and nickel and from about 5 to about 30 wt. % of iron. As another example, a catalyst of the type disclosed in Habermann U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,353 may be used, such as a catalyst comprising nickel, copper and a third component which may be iron, zinc, zirconium or a mixture thereof, e.g., a catalyst containing from about 20 to about 49 wt. % of nickel, about 36 to about 79 wt. % of copper and about 1  to about 15 wt. % of iron, zinc, zirconium or a mixture thereof. 
     Reaction Conditions 
     As indicated above, the reaction should be conducted at a temperature within the range of about 50° to about 200° C. and a pressure within the range of about 100 to about 4,000 psig., including a hydrogen partial pressure of about 50 to about 2,500 psi. 
     The reaction may be conducted on a batch base using powdered hydrogenation catalysts or on a continuous basis utilizing a pelleted hydrogenation catalyst. 
     When the reaction is conducted on a batch basis, reaction time should preferably be within the range of about 1 to about 12 hours. When the reaction is conducted on a continuous basis, wherein the primary amine starting material and the acetone are continuously passed over a bed of pelleted hydrogenation catalysts, the feed rate for the primary amine should preferably be within the range of about 0.5 to about 3 w/hr/v for the primary amine and about 0.5 to about 3 w/hr/v for the acetone. 
     THE SECONDARY ISOPROPYL AMINE REACTION PRODUCTS 
     When an oxyalkylene primary diamine or triamine starting material of the present invention is reacted with acetone in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrogenation catalyst under the described reaction conditions, the resultant reaction product will comprise an oxyalkylene secondary isopropyl amine containing secondary amine groups formed by the reaction of acetone with the primary amine groups of the oxyalkylene primary amine starting material. For example, when the oxyalkylene primary diamine or triamine has formula (II) given above, the reaction may be illustrated in the situation where all three of the amine groups react with acetone as follows: ##STR7## 
     Wherein R is either an alkoxy group of an oxyalkylation-susceptible polyhydric alcohol containing 2 to 12 carbon atoms and 2 or 3 hydroxyl groups and m is an integer having a value of 2 or 3 or R is oxygen and m is an integer having a value of 2, and R&#39; is hydrogen or methyl, and n is a number sufficient to impart an average molecular weight of about 100 to about 400 to the oxyalkylene diamine or triamine starting material. 
     In like manner, when the starting material is an oxypropylene diamine having formula (III), above, secondary isopropyl amine products are formed as follows: ##STR8## 
     Wherein R&#39; independently represents hydrogen or methyl, n is a number having an average value of about 1 to about 6, sufficient to impart an average molecular weight of about 100 to about 400 to the oxyalkylene diamine starting material and at least one of R&#39;&#34; represents an isopropyl group and the other R&#39;&#34; represents hydrogen or an isopropyl group. 
     As another example, when the oxypropylene primary triamine starting material is represented by formula V above wherein R represents methyl, A represents a trimethyl propane nucleus and the average value of w+y+z is sufficient to impart an average molecular weight of about 400 to the starting material, in the situation where all three of the primary amine groups react with acetone, the reaction proceeds as follows: ##STR9## 
     Wherein w, y and z are integers and the average value of w+y+z is sufficient to impart an average molecular weight of about 400 to the oxypropylene primary amine starting material. 
     USE OF ISOPROPYL SECONDARY AMINES AS FLEXIBLE CURING AGENTS FOR EPOXY RESINS 
     It has been discovered in accordance with the present invention that the secondary isopropyl amine derivatives of oxyethylene and/or oxypropylene primary diamines and triamines of the present invention are useful as flexible curing agents for epoxy resins. 
     UTILITY OF SECONDARY ISOPROPYL AMINES AS EPOXY CURING AGENTS 
     A particular utility for which the secondary isopropyl amine derivatives of oxyethylene and/or oxypropylene diamines and triamines of the present invention are well suited is found when they are used as curing agents for 1,2-epoxy resins. 
     It is known to use amines such as aliphatic or aromatic amines for curing 1,2-epoxy resins as shown, for example, by Waddill U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,524 and Marquis et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,162,358. See also, the textbook &#34;Handbook of Epoxy Resins&#34; by H. Lee and K. Neville, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1967. 
     Generally the vicinal epoxide compositions that can be cured using the curing agents of this invention are organic materials having an average of more than one reactive 1,2-epoxide group. These polyepoxide materials can be monomeric or polymeric, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic, and may be substituted if desired with other substituents besides the epoxy groups, e.g., hydroxyl groups, ether radicals, halogenated phenyl groups and the like. 
     The most widely used epoxy resins are diglycidyl ethers of bisphenol A: ##STR10## where n equals an integer of up to about 10 to 20. 
     However, these epoxides are representative of the broader class of epoxide compounds that are useful in making epoxy resins. 
     A widely used class of polyepoxides that can be cured according to the practice of the present invention includes the resinous epoxy polyethers obtained by reacting an epihalohydrin, such as epichlorohydrin, and the like, with either a polyhydric phenol or a polyhydric alcohol. An illustrative, but by no means exhaustive, listing of suitable dihydric phenols includes 4,4&#39;-isopropylidene bisphenol, 2,4&#39;-dihydroxydiphenylethylmethane, 3,3&#39;-dihydroxydiphenyldiethylmethane, 3,4&#39;-dihydroxydiphenylmethylpropylmethane, 2,3&#39;-dihydroxydiphenylethylphenylmethane, 4,4&#39;-dihydroxydiphenylmethane, 4,4&#39;-dihydroxydiphenylbutylphenylmethane, 2,2&#39;-dihydroxydiphenylditolylmethane, 4,4&#39;-dihydroxydiphenyltolylmethyl-methane and the like. Other polyhydric phenols which may also be co-reacted with an epihalohydrin to provide these epoxy polyethers are such compounds as resorcinol, hydroquinone, substituted hydroquinones, e.g., tertbutylhydroquinone, and the like. 
     Among the polyhydric alcohols that can be co-reacted with an epihalohydrin to provide the resinous epoxy polyethers are such compounds as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycols, pentane diols, bis(4-hydroxycyclohexyl)dimethylmethane, 1,4-dimethylolbenzene, glycerol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, trimethylolpropane, mannitol, sorbitol, erythritol, pentaerythritol, their dimers, trimers and higher polymers, e.g., polyethylene glycols, polypropylene glycols, triglycerol, dipentaerythritol and the like, polyallyl alcohol, polyhydric thioethers, such as 2,2&#39;-, 3,3&#39;-tetrahydroxydipropylsulfide and the like, mercapto alcohols such as α-monothioglycerol, α,α&#39;-dithioglycerol, and the like, polyhydric alcohol partial esters, such as monostearin, pentaerythritol monoacetate, and the like, and halogenated polyhydric alcohols such as the monochlorohydrins of glycerol, sorbitol, pentaerythritol and the like. 
     Another class of polymeric polyepoxides that can be cured by means of the above-described curing agents includes the epoxy novolac resins obtained by reacting, preferably, in the presence of a basic catalyst, e.g., sodium or potassium hydroxide, an epihalohydrin, such as epichlorohydrin, with the resinous condensate of an aldehyde, e.g., formaldehyde, and either a monohydric phenol, e.g., phenol itself, or a polyhydric phenol. Further details concerning the nature and preparation of these epoxy novolac resins can be obtained in Lee, H. and Neville, K., &#34;Handbook of Epoxy Resins&#34;. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the polyepoxide compositions that can be cured according to the practice of the present invention are not limited to the above described polyepoxides, but that these polyepoxides are to be considered merely as being representative of the class of polyepoxides as a whole. 
     The amount of curing agent that is employed in curing polyepoxide compositions will depend on the amine equivalent weight of the curing agent employed. The total number of equivalents of amine group is preferably from about 0.8 to about 1.2 times the number of epoxide equivalents present in the curable epoxy resin composition with a stoichiometric amount being most preferred. 
     Various conventionally employed additives can be admixed with these polyepoxide-containing compositions prior to final cure. For example, in certain instances it may be desired to add minor amounts of other co-catalysts, or hardeners, along with the curing agent system herein described. Conventional pigments, dyes, fillers, flame retarding agents and other compatible natural and synthetic resins can also be added. Furthermore, known solvents for the polyepoxide materials such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene, benzene, xylene, dioxane, methyl isobutyl ketone, dimethylformamide, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, and the like, can be used if desired, or where necessary. 
    
    
     WORKING EXAMPLES--BATCH EXPERIMENTS 
     Batch Preparation of N-Isopropyl Diamines and Triamines 
     Example 1 (6245-49) 
     Hydrogenation of Triethylene Glycol Diamine (Jeffamine EDR-148 Amine) with Acetone (2:3 Ratio) 
     To a 1-liter stirred autoclave was charged EDR-148 (296 g, 2 moles), acetone (174 g, 3 moles) and a nickel, copper, chromia catalyst containing about 75 mole % nickel, 23 mole % copper and 2 mole % chromium (25 g). The autoclave was sealed and flushed twice with hydrogen The reactor was pressured to 1000 psi of hydrogen and heated to 180° C. Then, the pressure was raised to 2500 psi and maintained at this pressure with incremental addition of hydrogen until no pressure uptake was noticed. The reaction time was about 5 hrs. The mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature. The catalyst was recovered through filtration. The filtrate was distilled to give N-isopropyl triethylene glycol diamine ( 1 ) (approx. 90% purity, b.p. 120°-129° C./12 mm Hg, 200 g) and N,N&#39;-diisopropyl triethylene glycol diamine, ( 2 ) (b.p. 134°-140° C./11 mm Hg, 66.2 g). ##STR11## 
     Example 2 (6245 81) 
     Batch Hydrogenation of Triethylene Glycol Diamine (Jeffamine EDR-148 Amine) and Acetone Mixture (2:4.1 Mole Ratio) 
     The experimental procedures of the above example were followed. The mixture of EDR-148 (296 g, 2 moles) and acetone (240 g, 4.1 moles) was hydrogenated. The reaction conditions were 2900 psi and 180° C. for about 5 hours using 5 g of the nickel, copper, chromia catalyst of Example 1. After filtration, the crude product contained total amine 7.36 meq/g and secondary amine 6.65 meq/g, indicating a high conversion of the EDR-148/acetone reaction 
     Example 3 (6245-89) 
     Batch Hydrogenation of Triethylene Glycol Diamine (Jeffamine EDR-148 Amine) with Acetone (1.0:1.1 Ratio) 
     The procedures of Example 1 were repeated, except using EDR-148 (296 g, 2 moles), acetone 9128 g, 2.2 moles) and 25 g of the nickel, copper, chromia catalyst of Example 1. The reaction conditions were 2900 psi H 2  and 180° for about 6  hours. The catalyst was removed by filtration. The amine content of 3.97 meq/g (total amine) and 2.95 meq/g (secondary amine) was found in the crude product. 
     Example 4 (6250-52) 
     Batch Hydrogenation of Triethylene Glycol Diamine (Jeffamine EDR-148 Amine) with Acetone (2:4.1 Mole Ratio) 
     The experimental procedures were repeated except using EDR-148 (296 g, 2 moles), acetone (240 g, 4.1 moles) and 5% pd on carbon 92.0 g). With reaction conditions of 1500 psi H 2  pressure, 80° C. and ca. 6 hours. After filtration, the filtrate was subjected to vacuum to remove light materials. The product was analyzed by amine titration and found to have the content of total amine 7.40 meq/g and secondary amine 7.08 meq/g, which indicated high conversion of EDR-148. 
     Example 5 (6250-1) 
     Batch Hydrogenation of bis-Aminoethyl Ether (BAEE) - Acetone Mixture (1:2 Ratio) 
     To a 1-liter stirred autoclave was charged bis-aminoethylether (BAEE) (208 g, 2.0 mole), acetone (232 g, 4.0 moles) and 25 grams of the nickel, copper, chromia catalyst of Example 1. The reactor was flushed twice with hydrogen and pressured to 1500 psi. After heating to 180° C., the hydrogen pressure was raised to 3000 psi and held for 3 hours. The catalyst was recovered by filtration. The filtrate was distilled twice under vacuum to give N-isopropyl bisaminoethylether (58.3 g, bp 91°-94° C./13 mm Hg).sup.(3) and N,N&#39;-diisopropyl bis-aminoethylether (128.2 g, 97°-100° C./10 mm Hg)..sup.(4) These compounds were confirmed by H-nmr. ##STR12## 
     Example 6 (6250-40) 
     Batch Hydrogenation of Tetraethylene Glycol Diamine (Jeffamine EDR-192 Amine) and Acetone (1:2.5 Mole Ratio) 
     The experimental procedures of Example 1 were repeated, except charging EDR-192 (409 g, 94%, approx. 2 moles), acetone (284 g, 4.9 moles) and 25 grams of the nickel, copper, chromia catalyst of Example 1. The reaction conditions were psi H 2  pressure, 180° C. and 4 hrs. The catalyst was recovered by filtration. The product was distilled to give 312 g of N,N&#39;-diisopropyl tetraethylene glycol diamine (b.p. 148°-157° C./2.5-3.9 mm Hg). This major product was confirmed by N-nmr to be ##STR13## 
     Example 7 (6250-33) 
     Batch Hydrogenation of an Oxypropylene Diamine having an Average Molecular Weight of 230 (Jeffamine D-230 Amine) with Acetone (1:4 Mole Ratio) 
     The experimental procedures were repeated with the mixture of JEFFAMINE® D-230 (299 g, 1.3 moles), acetone (307 g, 5.2 moles) and 25 grams of the nickel, copper, chromia catalyst of Example 1. The conditions were 3000 psi H 2  pressure, 180° C. and ca. 3.5 hours. The catalyst was recovered by filtration. The light materials were removed by cold-trap under vacuum. The crude product was light colored liquid with amine contents of 6.53 meq/g (calc. 6.4 meq/g) for total amine and 4.03 meq/g for secondary amine. (The product was obtained in the amount of 336 g). 
     Example 8 (6250-65) 
     Batch Hydrogenation of an Oxypropylene Diamine having an Average Molecular Weight of 230 (Jeffamine D-230 Amine) and Acetone (1:4 Mole Ratio) 
     The previous reaction was repeated, except using Pd 5% on c as catalyst. The reaction conditions were 1500 psi H 2  pressure, 80° C. and 14 hours. The crude product was filtered and stripped of the light material. The final product was light colored liquid with analyses of 6.16 meq/g total amine (6.37 meq/g calc.) and 6.13 meq/g secondary amine. The high content of secondary amine indicated the high conversion of primary to secondary amine. (The total product recovery was 377 g). 
     Example 9 (6250-3) 
     Batch Hydrogenation of an Oxypropylene Diamine having an Average Molecular Weight of 2000 (Jeffamine D-2000 Amine) and Acetone (1:6 Mole Ratio) 
     The reaction procedures of Example 1 were employed, except using JEFFAMINE D-2000 (500 g, 0.25 moles), acetone (87 g, 1.5 moles) and Ni-2715 (25 g). The conditions were 3000 psi H 2  pressure, 180° C. and 5 hours. After filtration and vacuum strip-off light material, a liquid material (456 g) was recovered. The analysis indicated the contents of primary amine 0.65 meq/g and secondary amine 0.29 meq/g. 
     Example 10 (6250-2) 
     Batch Hydrogenation of an Oxypropylene Diamine having an Average Molecular Weight of about 400 (Jeffamine D-400 Amine) and Acetone (1:4 Mole Ratio) 
     A similar experimental procedure was used except employing JEFFAMINE D-400 (400 g, 1.0 mole), acetone (232 g, 4.0 meq/g) and 25 grams of the nickel, copper, chromia catalyst of Example 1. The conditions were 3000 psi H 2  pressure, 180° C. and approx. 5 hours. After filtration and light material removal, the product had amine content of 1.8 meq/g for primary and 2.1 meq/g for secondary amine. 
     Example 11 (6250-5) 
     Batch Hydrogenation of Triethylene Glycol Diamine (Jeffamine EDR-148 Amine) with Methyl Ethyl Ketone (3:1 Mole Ratio) 
     The experimental procedures were conducted in similar fashion to Example 1. The mixtures of EDR-148 (296 g, 2.0 moles) methyl ethyl ketone (216 g, 3.0 moles) and nickel, copper, chromia catalyst (25 g) were hydrogenated under conditions of 3000 psi H 2 , 180° C. for ca. 4 hours. After filtration, the product was isolated by vacuum distillation: N-(2-butyl)triethylene glycol diamine (ca. b.p. 136° C./4.6 mm Hg, 228 g).sup.(6), amine content: 9.85 meq/g total and 5.05 meq/g primary. ##STR14## N,N&#39;-di(2-butyl)triethylene glycol diamine (7) (b.p ca. 142° C./4.0 mm Hg 87 g). Amine content: 7.70 meq/g total and 0.09 meq/g primary. Both compounds (6) and (7) were confirmed by H-nmr. 
     Example 12 (6285-9) 
     Batch Hydrogenation of an Oxypropylene Triamine having an Average Molecular Weight of 400 (Jeffamine T-403 Amine) with Acetone (1:1 Mole Ratio) 
     To a 1 liter autoclave was charged T-403 (465 g, about 1.0M), acetone (58 g, 1.0M) and Pd/c 1% (2.0 g). The autoclave was sealed and purged with hydrogen. The reaction was then pressured to 1000 psi with hydrogen and heated to 80° C. During the process, the pressure uptake was observed. Additional hydrogen was added to maintain 1500 psi for 7 hours. The reactor was allowed to cool to room temperature. The product mixture was filtered The filtrate was subjected to vacuum to remove light material, including water, acetone and isopropanol. The product mixture was analyzed 5.46 meq/g for primary amine and 0.76 meq/g for secondary amine. It is estimated that about 12% of amine is secondary amine in the JEFFAMINE T-403 amine reaction product. 
     Example 13 (6285-10) 
     Batch Hydrogenation of an Oxypropylene Triamine having an Average Molecular Weight of 400 (Jeffamine T-403 Amine) with Acetone (1:2 Mole Ratio) 
     The same procedures of Example 12 were repeated except using T-403 (465 g, 1M) and acetone (116 g, 2M) and pd/c 1% (2 g). The reaction conditions were 1500 psi H 2  and 9 hours at 80° C. The product was filtered and stripped of solvent and by-product. The analyses of final product indicated 5.05 meq/g for primary amine and 1.12 meq/g for 2°-amine. The secondary amine content was estimated to be about 18%. 
     Example 14 (6285-11) 
     Batch Hydrogenation of an Oxypropylene Triamine having an Average Molecular Weight of 400 (Jeffamine T-403 Amine) with Acetone (1:3 Mole Ratio) 
     Following the same procedures described above. The product contained 4.72 meq/g 1°-amine and 1.37 meq/g 2°-amine. The 2°-amine was about 22%. 
     Example 15 (6285-83) 
     Batch Hydrogenation of an Oxypropylene Triamine having an Average Molecular Weight of 400 (Jeffamine T-403 Amine) with Acetone (1:6 Mole Ratio) 
     The similar procedures of Example 12 were used except charging T-403 (418 g, 0.9M), acetone (314 g, 5.4M) and pd/c 1% (2 g). The reaction conditions were 2000 psi H 2  -pressure, 120° C. for ca. 14 hours. After filtration and removal of by-products, the final product contained ca. 84% secondary amine. 
     Example 20 (6310-100) 
     Batch Reaction of Ethylene Diamine and Acetone with Hydrogen 
     Ethylenediamine (120 g, 2 moles), acetone (348 g 6.0 moles) and 25 grams of the nickel, copper chromia catalyst of Example 1 were charged to a 1 liter autoclave. The autoclave was sealed and flushed with hydrogen and then pressured with hydrogen to 1,000 psig. While heating to 130° C., the pressure was increased to 3,000 psig and held at 3,000 psig with incremental supply of hydrogen from a surge tank until no pressure uptake was observed. The pressure uptake ceased after about 8 hours. The reactor was cooled to room temperature and 450 g of liquid product was recovered after filtration. Analysis (G.C.) indicated that there were no major products such as N,N&#39;-diisopropyl ethylenediamine or N-isopropyl ethylenediamine. 
     Discussion 
     Note that in Example 1 wherein triethylene glycol diamine was reacted with acetone in the molar ratio of 2 moles of diamine and 3 moles of acetone that both the N,N&#39;-diisopropyl triethylene glycol diamine and the N-isopropyl triethylene glycol diamine were formed whereas in Example 2 wherein the molar ratio of the same reactants was 2:4.1, more than 90% of the reaction product constituted the N,N&#39;-diisopropyl triethylene glycol diamine In Example 3 wherein the molar ratio for these reactants is 1.0:1.1, note that only about 74% of the diisopropyl amine derivative was obtained. 
     Good results were obtained in Example 4 at a 2:4.1 molar ratio of triethylene glycol diamine to acetone and this was also the case in Example 5 wherein bisaminoethylether was reacted with acetone in a 1:2 molar ratio. In Example 6, the reaction of tetraethylene glycol diamine with acetone in the molar ratio of 1:2.5 resulted in a substantially quantitative conversion of the feedstock to N,N&#39;-diisopropyl triethylene glycol diamine. However, in Example 7 when a polyoxypropylene diamine was reacted with acetone in the molar ratio of 1:4, only about 62% of the secondary amine was found in the reaction product whereas in Example 8 wherein the molar ratio of the reactants was 1:4, substantially all of the reaction product was the diisopropyl amine derivative. In Example 9 when an oxypropylene diamine having a molecular weight of 2000 was used, unsatisfactory results were obtained in that only about 30% of the reaction product was secondary amine. This is also true in Example 10 wherein an oxypropylene diamine having a molecular weight of about 400 was reacted with acetone in the ratio 1:4. 
     In Example 12 wherein a polyoxypropylene triamine was reacted with acetone in a 1:1 molar ratio, only about 12% of the secondary amine was formed. This is also true for Example 13 wherein the reactants were reacted in the molar ratio of 1:2 and Example 14 wherein a molar ratio of 1:3 was employed. However, in Example 15 when the polyoxypropylene triamine was reacted with acetone in a 1:6 ratio, the final product contained 84% secondary amine. 
     In contrast to the foregoing results, when an attempt was made to react hydrogen with ethylenediamine and acetone in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst in a 3:1 mole ratio under the reaction conditions of the present invention, negative results were obtained in that there was no detectable formation of either N,N&#39;-diisopropyl ethylenediamine or N&#39;-isopropyl ethylenediamine. 
     Use of N-(2-Butyl)Polyoxyethylene and/or Polyoxypropylene Diamines and Triamines as Epoxy Curing Agents 
     Example 17 (6250-73-2) 
     Usage of 1° and 2° Amine Mixtures from EDR-148/Acetone/H 2  Reactions 
     The mixture of N-isopropyl triethylene glycol diamine (ca. 75%) and N,N&#39;-diisopropyl triethylene glycol diamine (ca. 25%), 15 g (6250-73-2) and EPON® 828 (37 g) was mixed well and poured into a mold. After curing at ca. 70° C. for 2 hours, a flexible, transparent and tough material was made. The reaction was repeated except using N,N&#39;-diisopropyl triethylene glycol diamine (11.7 g, 95% pure) and EPON 828 (18.7 g). After heating at 70° C. for a few hours, it was observed that the mixture failed to cure at this temperature. After overnight curing, a soft material was obtained (transparent, plastic-like). 
     Example 18 (6285-11-1) 
     Usage of Product 
     The sample of 6285-11-1 containing 22% secondary amine (10 g) was mixed thoroughly with EPON® 828 (Shell product, 20 g). The fluid mixture was poured into a mold and cured at approx. 80° C. overnight. The material was hard, transparent polymer product. 
     Example 19 (6285-83-1) 
     The sample of 6285-83-1 containing 84% secondary amine (10 g) and EPON 828 (13 g) was mixed and poured into a mold and cured at approx. 80° C. for overnight. The material was very soft, flexible at 80° C. and hard at room temperature. A thermoplastic-like unique material was obtained 
     Comments 
     Note from Example 17 that use of the N,N&#39;-diisopropyl triethylene glycol diamine product of the present invention to cure a 1,2-epoxy resin resulted in the formation of a cured product which was soft and transparent. In Example 18 wherein the product was a triamine, a hard transparent material was obtained when the product contained only 22% of the secondary amine. However, in Example 19 wherein the curing agent contained 84% secondary amine, a unique thermoplastic flexible epoxide product was formed. 
     It is seen from this that the secondary diamine and triamine reaction products of the present invention are excellent flexible curing agents for epoxy resins. 
     WORKING EXAMPLES--CONTINUOUS RUNS 
     There is a significant improvement in reaction selectivity with an improved production of the desired di- and tri-secondary isopropyl amine reaction products when the oxyalkylene primary diamine and triamine starting materials of the present invention and acetone are reacted with hydrogen in the presence of a fixed bed of a pelleted hydrogenation catalyst (preferably a nickel-containing hydrogenation catalyst, such as one containing about 60 to about 85 mole percent of nickel, about 14 to about 37 mole percent of copper and about 1 to about 5 mole percent of chromium, as chromia) in a continuous reactor under reaction conditions including a temperature of about 100° to about 200° C. and a total pressure of about 1,000 to about 4,000 psig, including a hydrogen partial pressure of about 1,000 to about 4,000 psig, at a liquid hourly space velocity for the combined acetone and diamine or triamine feed components of about 0.5 to about 3 w/hr/v. This is illustrated by the following examples. 
     Example 20 (6310-88) 
     Continuous Reaction of Triethylene Glycol Diamine (Jeffamine EDR-148 Amine) and Acetone with Hydrogen 
     The experiment was performed in a 1,250 ml. tubular reactor having an inner diameter of 1.337 inches and a catalyst bed depth of 56 inches. A thermowell fabricated from 1/4 inch o.d. tubing extended upward into the catalyst bed a distance of about 46 inches to allow temperature measurements at four different points. The reactor was jacketed to allow circulation of liquid Dowtherm for temperature control. 
     Jeffamine EDR-148 amine and acetone were pumped separately at rates of about 0.63 #/hr and 0.74 #/hr, respectively, and were combined into a single liquid feed before entering the bottom of the reactor. Also, about 26 liters/hr of hydrogen gas (expressed at 0° C. and 1 atmosphere) were charged to the bottom of the reactor. These feed rates represent a feed mole ratio of 3.00 moles of acetone/mole of EDR-148, a space velocity of 0.5 g of liquid feed per hour per ml. of catalyst and a 100% excess of hydrogen feed, basis the acetone charge. Liquid and gas feeds were passed upward through the catalyst bed and maintained at a temperature in the range of 133° to 150° C. Reactor effluent was cooled and passed through a back-pressure regulator set to maintain 2,500 psig pressure in the reactor. Product from the regulator was discharged into a receiver in which the liquid product was collected at atmospheric pressure and from which gases were vented. Analysis of the liquid product indicated that a 100% conversion of the EDR-148 starting material was obtained, giving 93% of di-secondary isopropylamine product and 4% of mono-secondary isopropyl amine product on a mole basis. 
     Example 20 was essentially repeated, except for changes in space velocity and feedstock, as noted in Table 1 with the results that are there set forth. 
     
                       TABLE 1                                                     
______________________________________                                    
Continuous Production of N,N&#39;-Diisopropyl                                 
Polyoxyethylene and Polyoxypropylene Diamines                             
Note-      Amine/           Con-   Selectivity                            
book       Acetone          version                                       
                                   Percent                                
Num-  Starting Molar          Based on                                    
                                     di-   mono                           
ber   Amine    Ratio    LSHV  Amine  Sec.  Sec.                           
______________________________________                                    
6310-88                                                                   
      EDR-148  1:3      0.5   100    93     4                             
6340-1                                                                    
      EDR-148  1:3      1.0   100    88     8                             
6340-2                                                                    
      EDR-148  1:2.4    0.5   100    75    20                             
6340-3                                                                    
      EDR-148  1:2.4    1.0   100    79    18                             
6340-4                                                                    
      EDR-148  1:4      0.5   100    95     3                             
6340-7                                                                    
      EDR-192  1:3      1.0   100    90     6                             
6340-8                                                                    
      EDR-192  1:3      2.0   100    87    13                             
6340-13                                                                   
      D-230    1:3      1.0   --     64(2°)                        
6340-18                                                                   
      EDA      1:3      1.0   100    70    20                             
6340-19                                                                   
      EDA      1:4      1.0   100    92                                   
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     The foregoing examples are given by way of illustration only and are not intended as limitations on the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.