Kinetics of the reductive amination of 1-undecanal in thermomorphic multicomponent system

•Transformation of an aldehyde from sustainable sources into a tertiary amine.•Kinetic description of the reductive amination of a long chain aldehyde.•Water influence on aldehyde-enamine equilibrium mathematically described.•Quantum chemical calculations deliver accurate thermodynamic and kinetic parameters.•Fundamental basis for a kinetic description of the hydroaminomethylation.