Process for preparing 3 aminomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexylamine

A process for preparing isophoronediamine, wherein

• 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;
• where the catalyst has the following properties:
• I.
• the catalyst has, after the activation, in its entirety, the following composition in per cent by weight (% by weight), where the proportions add up to 100% by weight, based on the metals present:
• cobalt:
• 55% to 95% by weight
• aluminium:
• 5% to 45% by weight
• chromium:
• 0% to 3% by weight
• nickel:
• 0% to 7% by weight and
• II.
• the catalyst is in the form of irregular particles as a granular material and, after the activation, has particle sizes of 1 to 8 millimetres (mm).