The present invention relates to catalytically active material, comprising grains of non-graphitizing carbon with iron nanoparticles dispersed therein, wherein d.sub.p, the average diameter of iron nanoparticles in the non-graphitizing carbon grains, is in the range of 1 nm to 20 nm, D, the average distance between iron 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 iron nanoparticles dispersed therein, wherein d.sub.p, the average diameter of iron nanoparticles in the non-graphitizing carbon grains, is in the range of 1 nm to 20 nm, D, the average distance between iron 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.

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.

Process for preparing isophoronediamine, characterized in that

A) isophoronenitrile is subjected directly in one stage to aminating hydrogenation to give isophoronediamine in the presence of ammonia, hydrogen, a hydrogenation catalyst and possibly further additions, and in the presence or absence of organic solvents; or

B) isophoronenitrile is first converted fully or partly in at least two or more than two stages to isophoronenitrile imine, and this isophoronenitrile imine is subjected to aminating hydrogenation to give isophoronediamine as a pure substance or in a mixture with other components and/or isophoronenitrile, in the presence of at least ammonia, hydrogen and a catalyst.

Process for preparing isophoronediamine, characterized in that

A) isophoronenitrile is subjected directly in one stage to aminating hydrogenation to give isophoronediamine in the presence of ammonia, hydrogen, a hydrogenation catalyst and possibly further additions, and in the presence or absence of organic solvents; or

B) isophoronenitrile is first converted fully or partly in at least two or more than two stages to isophoronenitrile imine, and this isophoronenitrile imine is subjected to aminating hydrogenation to give isophoronediamine as a pure substance or in a mixture with other components and/or isophoronenitrile, in the presence of at least ammonia, hydrogen and a catalyst.

Process for preparing isophoronediamine, characterized in that

A) isophoronenitrile is subjected directly in one stage to aminating hydrogenation to give isophoronediamine in the presence of ammonia, hydrogen, a hydrogenation catalyst and possibly further additions, and in the presence or absence of organic solvents; or

B) isophoronenitrile is first converted fully or partly in at least two or more than two stages to isophoronenitrile imine, and this isophoronenitrile imine is subjected to aminating hydrogenation to give isophoronediamine as a pure substance or in a mixture with other components and/or isophoronenitrile, in the presence of at least ammonia, hydrogen and a catalyst.

A ligand having the structure or its enantiomer; (I) wherein: each one of R.sub.a, R.sub.b, R.sub.c and R.sub.d is selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl, and aryl; the bridge group is selected from CH.sub.2NH; *CH(CH.sub.3)NH(C*,R); and the organocatalyst is an organic molecule catalyst covalently bound to the bridge group. Also, a catalyst having the structure or its enantiomer: (II) wherein: each one of R.sub.a, R.sub.b, R.sub.c and R.sub.d is selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl, and aryl; the bridge group is selected from CH.sub.2NH; *CH(CH.sub.3)NH(C*,R); and *CH(CH.sub.3)NH(C*,S); the organocatalyst is an organic molecule catalyst covalently bound to the bridge group; and M is selected from the group consisting of Rh, Pd, Cu, Ru, Ir, Ag, Au, Zn, Ni, Co, and Fe. ##STR00001##

A ligand having the structure or its enantiomer; (I) wherein: each one of R.sub.a, R.sub.b, R.sub.c and R.sub.d is selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl, and aryl; the bridge group is selected from CH.sub.2NH; *CH(CH.sub.3)NH(C*,R); and the organocatalyst is an organic molecule catalyst covalently bound to the bridge group. Also, a catalyst having the structure or its enantiomer: (II) wherein: each one of R.sub.a, R.sub.b, R.sub.c and R.sub.d is selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl, and aryl; the bridge group is selected from CH.sub.2NH; *CH(CH.sub.3)NH(C*,R); and *CH(CH.sub.3)NH(C*,S); the organocatalyst is an organic molecule catalyst covalently bound to the bridge group; and M is selected from the group consisting of Rh, Pd, Cu, Ru, Ir, Ag, Au, Zn, Ni, Co, and Fe. ##STR00001##