Disclosed in the present invention is a method for preparing a
heterocyclic amine by catalytic
amination of a
polyol amine. The method uses polyols, polyamines or
alcohol amines as starting materials, and subjects same to a
hydroamination reaction with
ammonia or an organic amine source under the action of a catalyst so as to synthesize a product mainly comprising a
heterocyclic amine. The catalyst consists of three parts: an active
metal, an auxiliary agent and a carrier, wherein the active
metal is one or a combination of Co, Ni, Cu, Pd, Ru and Ir, the auxiliary agent is one or a combination of Fe, Sn, In, Re, Mn, B, V, W, Nb, Cr, La, Mo and Zn, and the carrier is one or a combination of CeO2, Al2O3, TiO2, a
molecular sieve,
activated carbon, SiO2 and Al2O3-SiO2. During the preparation process of the catalyst, surface hydrophobic modification is implemented by introducing organosilanes or polymers, etc., to the surface of the catalyst. The catalyst prepared by the method is applied in reactions for preparing heterocyclic amines by
amination of
polyol amines, and has the advantages of high yield of heterocyclic amines, good stability and
high activity, and thus has a broad industrial prospect.