The present invention relates to catalytically active material, comprising grains of non-graphitizing carbon with cobalt nanoparticles dispersed therein, wherein d.sub.p, the average diameter of cobalt nanoparticles in the non-graphitizing carbon grains, is in the range of 1 nm to 20 nm, D, the average distance between cobalt nanoparticles in the non-graphitizing carbon grains, is in the range of 2 nm to 150 nm, and ω, the combined total mass fraction of metal in the non-graphitizing carbon grains, is in the range of 30 wt % to 70 wt % of the total mass of the non-graphitizing carbon grains, and wherein d.sub.p, D and ω conform to the following relation: 4.5 d.sub.p/ω>D≥0.25 d.sub.p/ω. The present invention, further, relates to a process for the manufacture of material according to the invention, as well as its use as a catalyst.

The present invention relates to catalytically active material, comprising grains of non-graphitizing carbon with cobalt nanoparticles dispersed therein, wherein d.sub.p, the average diameter of cobalt nanoparticles in the non-graphitizing carbon grains, is in the range of 1 nm to 20 nm, D, the average distance between cobalt nanoparticles in the non-graphitizing carbon grains, is in the range of 2 nm to 150 nm, and ω, the combined total mass fraction of metal in the non-graphitizing carbon grains, is in the range of 30 wt % to 70 wt % of the total mass of the non-graphitizing carbon grains, and wherein d.sub.p, D and ω conform to the following relation: 4.5 d.sub.p/ω>D≥0.25 d.sub.p/ω. The present invention, further, relates to a process for the manufacture of material according to the invention, as well as its use as a catalyst.

The present invention relates to catalytically active material, comprising grains of non-graphitizing carbon with cobalt nanoparticles dispersed therein, wherein d.sub.p, the average diameter of cobalt nanoparticles in the non-graphitizing carbon grains, is in the range of 1 nm to 20 nm, D, the average distance between cobalt nanoparticles in the non-graphitizing carbon grains, is in the range of 2 nm to 150 nm, and ω, the combined total mass fraction of metal in the non-graphitizing carbon grains, is in the range of 30 wt % to 70 wt % of the total mass of the non-graphitizing carbon grains, and wherein d.sub.p, D and ω conform to the following relation: 4.5 d.sub.p/ω>D≥0.25 d.sub.p/ω. The present invention, further, relates to a process for the manufacture of material according to the invention, as well as its use as a catalyst.

In order to enable a reductive amination reaction at a low temperature and a low hydrogen pressure, provided is a catalyst comprising cobalt supported on an oxide, the catalyst produced by a method comprising the following steps (1) to (4): (1) a step of mixing a salt containing a cobalt ion and an oxide in water, (2) a step of distilling water away from a mixed solution obtained in step (1) and drying a resulting solid material, (3) a step of calcining a dried material obtained in step (2) in a nitrogen stream, and (4) a step of reducing a calcined product obtained in step (3) in a hydrogen stream.

In order to enable a reductive amination reaction at a low temperature and a low hydrogen pressure, provided is a catalyst comprising cobalt supported on an oxide, the catalyst produced by a method comprising the following steps (1) to (4): (1) a step of mixing a salt containing a cobalt ion and an oxide in water, (2) a step of distilling water away from a mixed solution obtained in step (1) and drying a resulting solid material, (3) a step of calcining a dried material obtained in step (2) in a nitrogen stream, and (4) a step of reducing a calcined product obtained in step (3) in a hydrogen stream.

In order to enable a reductive amination reaction at a low temperature and a low hydrogen pressure, provided is a catalyst comprising cobalt supported on an oxide, the catalyst produced by a method comprising the following steps (1) to (4): (1) a step of mixing a salt containing a cobalt ion and an oxide in water, (2) a step of distilling water away from a mixed solution obtained in step (1) and drying a resulting solid material, (3) a step of calcining a dried material obtained in step (2) in a nitrogen stream, and (4) a step of reducing a calcined product obtained in step (3) in a hydrogen stream.

A process for manufacturing aliphatic amines and nitriles by using the Fischer Tropsch synthesis (FTS), in the production of chain-lengthened hydrocarbons from CO and H.sub.2 and their terminal nitrogen functionalization using ammonia. The method can include activating a catalyst with a feed gas, wherein the feed gas comprises H.sub.2/CO mixtures; providing a temperature between 180° C. and 300° C. under a pressure between 1 bar to 25 bar; wherein the nitrogenates include at least one aliphatic amine and/or nitrile; and setting or adjusting the H.sub.2/CO ratio to selectively synthesize amines and/or nitriles over other nitrogen containing compounds.

A process for manufacturing aliphatic amines and nitriles by using the Fischer Tropsch synthesis (FTS), in the production of chain-lengthened hydrocarbons from CO and H.sub.2 and their terminal nitrogen functionalization using ammonia. The method can include activating a catalyst with a feed gas, wherein the feed gas comprises H.sub.2/CO mixtures; providing a temperature between 180° C. and 300° C. under a pressure between 1 bar to 25 bar; wherein the nitrogenates include at least one aliphatic amine and/or nitrile; and setting or adjusting the H.sub.2/CO ratio to selectively synthesize amines and/or nitriles over other nitrogen containing compounds.

Disclosed is a process for performing a chemical reaction selected from reductive amination and hydrogenation of a first functional group in an organic feed substrate, which feed substrate comprises at least one further functional group containing a halogen atom, wherein the halogen atom is selected from the list consisting of chlorine, bromine, iodine, and combinations thereof, in the presence of hydrogen and a heterogeneous catalyst comprising at least one metal from the list of Pd, Rh, and Ru, together with at least a second metal from the list consisting of Ag, Ni, Co, Sn, Cu and Au. The process is preferably applied for the reductive amination of 2-chloro-benzaldehyde to form 2-chloro-benzyldimethylamine, as an intermediate in the production of agrochemically active compounds and microbiocides of the methoximinophenylglyoxylic ester series. Further disclosed is a composition rich in 2-chloro-benzyldimethylamine, further comprising an amount of 2-chloro-benzyl alcohol and being low in chlorotoluene isomers.

Disclosed is a process for performing a chemical reaction selected from reductive amination and hydrogenation of a first functional group in an organic feed substrate, which feed substrate comprises at least one further functional group containing a halogen atom, wherein the halogen atom is selected from the list consisting of chlorine, bromine, iodine, and combinations thereof, in the presence of hydrogen and a heterogeneous catalyst comprising at least one metal from the list of Pd, Rh, and Ru, together with at least a second metal from the list consisting of Ag, Ni, Co, Sn, Cu and Au. The process is preferably applied for the reductive amination of 2-chloro-benzaldehyde to form 2-chloro-benzyldimethylamine, as an intermediate in the production of agrochemically active compounds and microbiocides of the methoximinophenylglyoxylic ester series. Further disclosed is a composition rich in 2-chloro-benzyldimethylamine, further comprising an amount of 2-chloro-benzyl alcohol and being low in chlorotoluene isomers.