N, N-Dialkylethylenediamines have been pre-several steps are involved, the reaction is readily pared by the Gabriel synthesis using ethylene carried out and requires only one distillation. bromide and a secondary amine, by the amina- The dialkylaminoacetonitriles were reduced tion of a dialkylaminoethyl bromide hydrobro-using sodium in ethanol or, preferably, in butanol, midea and by the reduction of dialkylaminoaceto-to form the ...