The invention relates to a method for producing cyclic amine compounds such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone. In the preferred embodiment the precursor is diammonium succinate prepared from fermentation. The invention reports on a way of producing an intermediate that can be purified before the ultimate step, which requires precious metal catalysis. Impurities in the fermentation broth can harm such catalysts. Several examples are given that illustrate the invention.