Preparation of mxylyenediamine with Raney Ni Comprising Iron and Chromium

mXylyenediamine was prepared by reducing the isophthalonitrile with hydrogen in the presence of Raney nickel promoted with iron and chromium. By utilizing this particular catalyst, it is not only possible to provide a drop in reaction temperature and an increase in rate of consumed hydrogen which is substantially above that obtained with Raney nickel alone, but also to attain yield of the desired product more than 80%. The results indicated that the deactivated catalyst was recovered to its original reactivity by simple process of regeneration.