Process for the production of primary and/or secondary amines from oxo compounds

In a process for the production of a primary amine from an oxo compound selected from the group consisting of aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes and ketones, which oxo compound may optionally contain further groups capable of reduction, which comprises iminating the oxo compound in the presence of a imine-forming catalyst and in the presence or absence of an organic solvent with excess ammonia to produce the primary amine and hydrogenating the resultant reaction product with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst at a temperature in the range from 20.degree. to 250.degree. C. and a pressure in the range from 0.5 to 25 MPa,

• the improvement wherein
• an organopolysiloxane containing sulphonate groups and which is resistant to partial or complete dissolution in the reaction medium is used as the imination catalyst.