Correlation between the amount of ionic copper and the activity of Cu–ZnO–Al2O3 catalyst in the alkylation of n-butylamine with methanol Original Research Article

The alkylation of n-butylamine with methanol was investigated over Cu–ZnO–Al2O3 catalyst. Correlation has been found between the activity of the catalyst and the content of ionic copper in the catalyst. Based on this correlation, it has been suggested that in this reaction ionic copper species are involved in the rate-determining step, i.e. in the dehydrogenation of methanol into an aldehyde intermediate.