The liquid-phase synthesis of 3-picoline from the reaction of acrolein diethyl acetal and ammonia over ion-exchanged resins (D402 and D002) and HZSM-5 (Si/Al = 25) was carried out in a batch reactor. Various influencing parameters, including by the addition of water, ion-exchanged resins, reaction temperature and HZSM-5, were systematically investigated. The results showed that the reaction could be directly conducted, and organic acid wasn't utilized. The highest yield of 3-picoline reached up to 24% using HZSM-5 as catalyst a...