| abstract |
N-substituted cyclic amines of the general formula I ##STR1## where A is an alkylene group or a --(CH 2 ) n --[--O--(CH 2 ) m ] r group which may be monosubstituted or polysubstituted by radicals R without the radicals R in a defined compound having to be identical, R is alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, unsubstituted or alkyl-substituted or alkoxy-substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, aryl or arylalkyl, n and m independently of one another are each from 2 to 8 and r is from 1 to 3, the --(CH 2 ) n --[O--(CH 2 ) m ] r group consisting of from 5 to 12 members, are prepared by reacting a primary amine of the general formula II n n R--NH.sub.2 (II) n n with a diol of the general formula III n n HO--A--OH (III) n n where R and A have the abovementioned meanings, and hydrogen in the presence of a copper-containing hydrogenation/dehydrogenation catalyst at elevated temperatures and under superatmospheric pressure, by a process in which the reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalytic amount of a basic alkali metal compound or alkaline earth metal compound. |