Ethylene Amines: Ethylene Dichloride Heated with Ammonia Water, Mnookin 1936

Ethylene dichloride heated to 140–150 °C with much ammonia water in a pressure vessel turns completely into amines in about half an hour (Mnookin, US 2,049,467, 1936). Set free with alkali and fractionated, they are about 40 % ethylenediamine (118 °C), 30 % diethylene triamine (208 °C) and 20 % triethylene tetramine (266 °C). Diethylene triamine is the hardener for epoxy glue. The picture: our diagram of the four stages.