Patent ID: 7754923

Claim:
A process for producing a tertiary amine represented by the following general formula (2): wherein R l is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 1 to 23 carbon atoms; and R 2 and R 3 are each independently a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, said process comprising the step of subjecting an amide represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are the same as defined above, to hydrogenation reduction in the presence of a catalyst consisting of copper, at least one element selected from the group consisting of elements belonging to Groups 2, 3 and 7 of the Periodic Table (long form of the periodic table), and optionally at least one element selected from the group consisting of elements belonging to Groups 8 to 10 of the Periodic Table.