PROCESSES FOR THE PREPARATION OF ENAMINES

1 . A process comprising:

(A) contacting a first mixture with a second mixture in a reaction zone

(1) wherein said first mixture comprises pyrrolidine, and

(2) wherein said second mixture comprises 3-methylsulfanyl-butyraldehyde and toluene, and

(3) wherein said first mixture is contacted with said second mixture below the surface of said second mixture;

(B) reacting in said reaction zone said pyrrolidine and said 3-methylsulfanyl-butyraldehyde to produce 1-(3-methylsulfanyl-but-1-enyl)-pyrrolidine and H 2 O, wherein said reacting is conducted under azeotropic distillation conditions comprising

(1) a pressure from about 5000 Pa to about 15000 Pa, and

(2) a temperature from about 25° C. to about 65° C.; and

(C) removing a vapor phase comprising toluene and H 2 O and essentially no 3-methylsulfanyl-butyraldehyde,

wherein the ratio of

(the amount of first mixture added): (the vapor phase removed) is from about

(1 part first mixture added): (3 parts vapor phase removed) to about

(1 part first mixture added): (10 parts vapor phase removed);

wherein said process no desiccants are used to remove H 2 O in said process; and

wherein said process the molar ratio of amine to carbonyl is greater than 1 but less than about 1.1.