N-methylated amines from selective vapor phase amination of amino ether alcohols

A method for converting an amino ether alcohol to an amino ether amine, the method comprising contacting a catalyst comprising at least one of zinc oxide or a zinc salt, and at least one of copper oxide or a copper salt, with a vapor phase mixture comprising the amino ether alcohol and an amine, wherein the amino ether alcohol has the formula NR1R2R3, wherein R1 and R2 each individually is selected from the group consisting of H, C1–C10 alkyl, a C6–C10 aryl, and a C6–C10 aralkyl R3 is a C4–C10 alkyl group having within it an ether linkage and also containing at least one hydroxyl group, and the amine has the formula, NHR4R5, wherein R4 and R5 each individually is H, a C1–C10 alkyl, a C6–C10 aryl, or a C6–C10 aralkyl group, provided that no more than one of R4 and R5 is H, wherein the contacting is performed at a temperature ranging from 120° C. to 300° C. and a pressure ranging from 0 to 500 psig (101 to 3549 kPa).