A process for the production of 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-pyrimidine comprising
- (i) providing a reactor containing a catalyst comprising a zeolitic material, wherein the zeolitic material comprises YO2 and optionally comprises X2O3 in its framework structure, wherein Y is a tetravalent element and X is a trivalent element;
- (ii) preparing a reaction mixture comprising acetone and ammonia;
- and
- (iii) contacting the catalyst in the reactor with the reaction mixture prepared in (ii) for obtaining a reaction product comprising 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-pyrimidine;
- wherein the temperature programmed desorption of ammonia (NH3-TPD) profile of the zeolitic material comprised in the catalyst provided in (i) displays one or more bands associated with medium acid sites, said one or more bands having maxima in the temperature range of from 250 to 500° C., wherein the integration of said one or more bands affords a total value of 0.5 mmol/g or less, and
- wherein the mixture prepared in (ii) and contacted with the catalyst in (iii) contains water in an amount in the range of from 0.01 to 10 wt.-% based on 100 wt.-% of the reaction mixture.