Synthesis of trioctylamine by the amination of octanol and ammonia under atmospheric pressure over an excellent Ni-Cu catalyst supported on diatomite is studied in this article. The key factor for the synthesis is the preparation of catalyst with a high activity and selectivity. The activity and selectivity can be adjusted by varying the Ni to Cu ratios. The optimum molar ratio of Ni to Cu was 1.25:1. For the catalyst with a Ni/Cu ratio of 1.25:1, the conversion of octanol and the selectivity of trioctylamine reached 100 and 97.3%, respectively, at 5 h. The reaction of dioctylamine with octanol was the rate-determining step for the formation of trioctylamine. The Physical properties of catalysts, such as particle size, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, valence state of catalyst elements, morphology and reduction properties of catalysts were investigated by using X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms (BET), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, and temperature programmed reduction, respectively. The reaction scheme of catalytic amination of octanol with ammonia was discussed.