Abstract: A composition comprising a ternary intermetallic compound X2YZ, wherein X, Y, and Z are different from one another; X being selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Pd; Y being selected from the group consisting of Cr, Co, and Ni; and Z being selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, Ga, Ge, In, Sn, Zn, and Sb; wherein the ternary intermetallic compound is supported on a porous oxidic support material. The composition may be prepared by providing a liquid mixture of sources of X, Y, and Z, and the porous oxidic support material, removing the liquid and heating the resulting mixture in a reducing atmosphere. The composition is useful as catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst comprising particles of a ternary intermetallic compound of the following formula (I): X2YZ wherein X, Y, and Z are different from one another; X being selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Pd; Y being selected from the group consisting of V, Mn, Cu, Ti, and Fe; and Z being selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, Ga, Ge, In, Sn, and Sb; wherein the particles of the ternary intermetallic compound are supported on a support material, as well as to a method for its production and to its use as a catalyst, and more specifically as a catalyst in a process for the condensation of a carbonyl compound with a methylene group containing compound or for the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides in exhaust gas.