Study on the synthesis of N, N-di-2, 3-epoxypropyl dodecylamine

N, N-di-2, 3-epoxypropyl dodecylamine (EDA), an important intermediate of the surfactants with good chemical reactivities, was synthesized via ring-closing reaction of the chlorohydrin, which was prepared through the ring-opening reaction of the epichlorohydrin with dodecylamine, in the KOH-H₂O solutions. The structure of the products were characterized through FTIR, ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR spectrum. Influence of the reaction conditions, such as temperature and time of the ring-closing reaction, amount of the alkali and epichlorohydrin, types of the alkali, etc. on the content of EDA in the produces were studied, and then the optimal conditions for synthesizing N, N-di-2, 3-epoxypropyl dodecylamine was defined.