A catalyst includes a carrier, and a metal obtained by reducing a metal ion supported on the carrier 1) in a supercritical state or 2) in a polar organic solvent, wherein the carrier is an inorganic porous body having a hierarchical porous structure. By employing the catalyst, it is possible to exhibit better catalytic activity than a conventional catalyst. Heat generation and spontaneous ignition are prevented because no organic porous body is used.

A catalyst includes a carrier, and a metal obtained by reducing a metal ion supported on the carrier 1) in a supercritical state or 2) in a polar organic solvent, wherein the carrier is an inorganic porous body having a hierarchical porous structure. By employing the catalyst, it is possible to exhibit better catalytic activity than a conventional catalyst. Heat generation and spontaneous ignition are prevented because no organic porous body is used.

The present invention relates to indane derivatives of the formula (I) and mixtures thereof, wherein X is selected from groups of the formulae -A-NH2 or -A-(NAr.sub.2), wherein A is a chemical bond or phenylene which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1, 2, 3 or 4 substituents selected from C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl and C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkoxy; Ar is unsubstituted or substituted aryl, wherein two groups Ar bound to the same nitrogen atom may together with the nitrogen atom also form a fused ring system having 3 or more than 3 unsubstituted or substituted rings; and the variables R.sup.A, R.sup.B, Y, k, I, m, p, q and r are as defined in the claims and the description. The invention further relates to methods for preparing such compounds and their use in organic electronics, in particular as hole transport material or electron blocking material.

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to indane derivatives of the formula (I) and mixtures thereof, wherein X is selected from groups of the formulae -A-NH2 or -A-(NAr.sub.2), wherein A is a chemical bond or phenylene which is unsubstituted or substituted by 1, 2, 3 or 4 substituents selected from C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl and C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkoxy; Ar is unsubstituted or substituted aryl, wherein two groups Ar bound to the same nitrogen atom may together with the nitrogen atom also form a fused ring system having 3 or more than 3 unsubstituted or substituted rings; and the variables R.sup.A, R.sup.B, Y, k, I, m, p, q and r are as defined in the claims and the description. The invention further relates to methods for preparing such compounds and their use in organic electronics, in particular as hole transport material or electron blocking material.

##STR00001##

A catalytic membrane composite that includes porous supported catalyst particles durably enmeshed in a porous fibrillated polymer membrane is provided. The porous fibrillated polymer membrane may be manipulated to take the form of a tube, disc, or diced tape and used in multiphase reaction systems. The supported catalyst particles are composed of at least one finely divided metal catalyst dispersed on a porous support substrate. High catalytic activity is gained by the effective fine dispersion of the finely divided metal catalyst such that the metal catalyst covers the support substrate and/or is interspersed in the pores of the support substrate. In some embodiments, the catalytic membrane composite may be introduced to a stirred tank autoclave reactor system, a continuous flow reactor system, or a Parr Shaker reaction system and used to effect the catalytic reaction.

A catalytic membrane composite that includes porous supported catalyst particles durably enmeshed in a porous fibrillated polymer membrane is provided. The porous fibrillated polymer membrane may be manipulated to take the form of a tube, disc, or diced tape and used in multiphase reaction systems. The supported catalyst particles are composed of at least one finely divided metal catalyst dispersed on a porous support substrate. High catalytic activity is gained by the effective fine dispersion of the finely divided metal catalyst such that the metal catalyst covers the support substrate and/or is interspersed in the pores of the support substrate. In some embodiments, the catalytic membrane composite may be introduced to a stirred tank autoclave reactor system, a continuous flow reactor system, or a Parr Shaker reaction system and used to effect the catalytic reaction.

A supported catalyst having rhodium particles with an average diameter of less than 1 nm disposed on a support material containing magnetic iron oxide (e.g. Fe.sub.3O.sub.4). A method of producing the supported catalyst and a process of reducing nitroarenes to corresponding aromatic amines employing the supported catalyst with a high product yield are also described. The supported catalyst may be recovered with ease using an external magnet and reused.

A supported catalyst having rhodium particles with an average diameter of less than 1 nm disposed on a support material containing magnetic iron oxide (e.g. Fe.sub.3O.sub.4). A method of producing the supported catalyst and a process of reducing nitroarenes to corresponding aromatic amines employing the supported catalyst with a high product yield are also described. The supported catalyst may be recovered with ease using an external magnet and reused.

Disclosed is a process for the catalytic reduction of nitro compounds to their corresponding amine products with bisulfite as the reductant or chemicals that can be converted into bisulfite under reaction condition. This novel process uses non-Noble metal catalysts and affords quantitative conversion for numerous different kinds of nitro compounds under mild reaction conditions.

Disclosed is a process for the catalytic reduction of nitro compounds to their corresponding amine products with bisulfite as the reductant or chemicals that can be converted into bisulfite under reaction condition. This novel process uses non-Noble metal catalysts and affords quantitative conversion for numerous different kinds of nitro compounds under mild reaction conditions.