Process for preparing n-alkyl polyhydroxyalkyl amines in aqueous/hydroxy solvents

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Amines such as methyl amine are reacted with materials such as reducing sugars in aqueous/hydroxy solvents such as water and/or methanol to prepare N-alkyl polyhydroxy amines. Accordingly glucose is reacted with methyl amine and the resulting adduct is hydrogenated to yield N-methylglucamine. The N-alkyl polyhydroxyamines can be subsequently reacted with fatty esters to provide polyhydroxy fatty acid amides useful as detersive surfactants. Thus, detersive surfactants are available from nonpetrochemical precursors such as sugars and sugar sources such as corn syrup and fatty acid esters derivable from various fats and oils.