PURPOSE: To obtain mono- and dimethylamine on a large scale by making methanol react with ammonia in the presence of a catalyst consisting of the substance obtained by treating water-containing mordenite with a silylating agent in a liquid phase under suppressing the formation of trimethylamine.

CONSTITUTION: Methyl amines, especially mono- and dimethylamine rather than trimethylamine, are obtained from methanol and ammonia on a large scale. This reaction is carried out with a catalyst obtained by treating mordenite containing 3-40wt.%, especially 5-30wt.%, of water with a silylating agent in a liquid phase. The silylating agent is selected from silicon alkoxide, e.g. tetramethoxysilane, silicon tetrachloride, dimethyldichlorosilane. The mordenite preferably has silica/alumina ratio of 10 or more than 10. This process dispenses with recycling of trimethylamine by disproportionation reaction and enables he simplification of the manufacturing process of methylamines and the reduction of energy consumption.