Method of preparing 1-amino-2, 6-dimethylpiperidine

In the process for the preparation of 1-amino-2,6-dimethylpiperidine by catalytic hydrogenation of 1-nitroso-2,6-dimentylpiperidine in the presence of a palladium catalyst partly poisoned with iron ions, the improvement which comprises increasing the yield to more than 90% by adding to a reaction vessel a reaction mixture consisting essentially of the 1-nitroso-2,6-dimethylpiperidine, said palladium catalyst and hydrogen gas, in the substantial absence of water or other solubilizing agents, and subjecting the reaction mixture to hydrogenation conditions to produce 1-amino-2,6-dimethylpiperidine in a yield of more than 90%.