is a hydrogen or a lower alkyl c 1 c 4 radical preferably a methyl radical examples of linear polyalkylene polyamines that are produced in accordance with the process of this invention include dipropylene triamine tributylene tetramine and various polyethylene polyamines such as diethylene triamine triethylene tetramine and tetraethylene pentamine other types of polyamines include di 2 methylethylene triamine tri 2 methylethylene tetramine and n 2 aminoethyl 1 3 propylene diamine a variety of acidic catalytic systems can be utilized for effecting condensation of the hydroxyl group of the alkanolamine with the alkylene amine compound and numerous catalytic systems have already been described in the background portion of this application and such catalysts are incorporated by reference i e from u s 4 036 881 european 0 093 434 and u s 4 394 524 in view of the fact that the reaction is carried out under vapor phase conditions the catalyst is material capable of being compounded as a particulate material or capable of being supported by a solid phase carrier the nonvolatile catalytic systems may be incorporated upon or impregnated into an inert support silica carbon and zeolites are representative of the latter by utilizing a catalyst system which is in solid phase form a fixed bed catalytic reactor can be utilized to effect the condensation of the alkanolamine.