Patent ID: 8017808

Claim:
A process for preparing an amine comprising reacting an aldehyde and/or a ketone with hydrogen and a nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of primary amines and secondary amines in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst, wherein said heterogeneous catalyst is a coated catalyst comprising (1) at least one metal of group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements as a hydrogenating metal and (2) a promoter on an oxidic support, wherein at least 80% of said at least one metal of group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements is present in a layer between the surface of the catalyst and a penetration depth of not more than 80% of the radius of said heterogeneous catalyst, as calculated from the surface of said heterogeneous catalyst, and wherein said promoter is substantially homogeneously distributed over the entire cross section of said heterogeneous catalyst.