Abstract: A material useful as catalyst for the hydrogenation of alpha, Omega-dinitriles comprises a) iron or a compound based on iron or mixtures thereof, (b) from 0.001 to 0.3% by weight based on (a) of a promoter based on 2, 3, 4 or 5 elements selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silicon, zirconium, titanium and vanadium, (c) from 0 to 0.3% by weight based on (a) of a compound based on an alkali and/or alkaline earth metal, and also (d) from 0.001 to 1% by weight based on (a) of manganese.

Abstract: A material useful as catalyst for the hydrogenation of alpha, omega-dinitriles comprises

Abstract: N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is prepared by preparing a mixture comprising monomethylamine, dimethylamine and trimethylamine and ammonia in a first process step by reacting ammonia with methanol at elevated temperature in the presence of a catalyst, separating off the ammonia, reacting the mixture comprising the methylamines with gamma-butyrolactone (&ggr;-BL), in a molar ratio of monomethylamine to &ggr;-BL of at least 1 in a second process step at elevated temperature and superatmospheric pressure, separating NMP and unreacted methylamines from the reaction product and returning unreacted methylamines to the first process step for reaction with methanol and ammonia.

Abstract: A process for preparing aliphatic alpha, omega-diamines by hydrogenation of aliphatic alpha, omega-dinitriles in the presence of a catalyst comprises using a hydrogenation catalyst comprising (a) iron or a compound based on iron or mixtures thereof, (b) from 0.001 to 0.3% by weight based on (a) of a promoter based on 2, 3, 4 or 5 elements selected from the group consisting of aluminum, silicon, zirconium, titanium and vanadium, and also (c) from 0 to 0.3% by weight based on (a) of a compound based on an alkali and/or alkaline earth metal.

Abstract: A process for hydrogenation of aliphatic alpha, omega-dinitriles in the presence of a heterogeneous fixed bed catalyst comprises using a reaction mixture comprising from 2 &mgr;mol to 30 mmol NA, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba or Mn or mixtures thereof in the form of a basic salt, based on 10 mol of aliphatic alpha, omega-dinitrile used.

Abstract: A process for hydrogenating a compound in the group of the imines or enamines I to an amine II in the presence of a nitrile III, said nitrile III being essentially not hydrogenated comprises reacting a mixture comprising a compound I and a nitrile III with a gas comprising molecular hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst IV.