PRODUCTION OF SECONDARY AMINE

PURPOSE:To obtain the titled substance, by reacting an alcohol or aldehyde with a primary amine in the presence of a catalyst, consisting of three metal components containing copper and nickel and further a small amount of a platinum group element of group VIII metal added thereto and capable of exhibiting high activity and selectivity under pressure while removing water. CONSTITUTION:An alcohol or aldehyde having a straight or branched chain or polyhydric alcohol is reacted with a primary amine in the presence of a catalyst, consisting of three metal components (preferably 1:9-9:1 molar ratio of copper to nickel and at 0.001-0.1 molar ratio of the platinum group element of group VIII metal to the total amount of the copper and nickel) and prepared by adding the platinum group metal catalyst, e.g. platinum, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium, etc., to the copper and nickel at 150-250 deg.C under atmospheric pressure - 5atm pressure (gauge pressure) removing water formed by the reaction to afford the aimed secondary amine. The primary amine is preferably present in a larger amount than the consumption of the alcohol or aldehyde in the system at all times.