Production of noncyclic polyalkylene polyamines

A process for selectively preparing predominantly noncyclic polyalkylene polyamines wherein one or more linear alkyleneamines are reacted in the presence of a mordenite catalyst under conditions sufficient to effect a disproportionation reaction. Preferably, the catalyst is prepared by treating the mordenite with an amount of a phosphorus-containing moiety sufficient to provide a catalyst which is impregnated with from about 0.01 to 15 wt % elemental phosphorus based upon the total weight of the impregnated mordenite catalyst. The process is especially useful in the production of diethylenetriamine wherein ethylenediamine is reacted in the presence of LZ-M-8 catalyst which has been treated with an amount of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate sufficient to provide a catalyst which is impregnated with from about 0.1 to 8 wt % elemental phosphorus based upon the total weight of the impregnated mordenite catalyst. The products can be isolated by conventional techniques such as distillation.