Manufacture of oxazolidines by the alkoxylation of imines

Abstract From the Canadian patent

N-substituted mono or bis-oxazolidines may be manufactured by reacting on alkylene oxide at alkoxylating conditions with a mono-imine of the general formula: R-N = , or a bis-imine of the general formula: wherein R is a linear or branched alkyl aryl, aralkyl, alkylenyl or aryllenyl group having 1-22 carbon atoms and, R1, R2, R3 and R4 may be the same or different and are se-, lected from the group including Hmethyl, ethyl, isobutyl, isoamyl, or phenyl. The oxazolidine may thereafter be cleaved with water, preferably slightly acidified to pro-, duce the monoethoxylated amine. These oxazolidines are useful as intermediates in the production of monoalkoxylated amines.