Hexamethylene diamine by hydrogenation of adiponitrile in presence of an activated iron oxide catalyst

A process for the hydrogenation of an adiponitrile to hexamethylene diamine with hdyrogen in the presence of a catalyst obtained by heating, in the presence of hydrogen at a temperature above 200.degree. but not above 600.degree. C and at pressures up to 500 atmospheres, a fused and solidified iron oxide in the form of particles suitable for use in a fixed bed of catalyst, the fused material containing not less than 96.5% of iron oxide, which oxide has an atomic ratio of oxygen to iron within the range 1.2 :

• 1 to 1.4 :
• 1 which process comprises heating adiponitrile in the presence of the said catalyst and in the presence of excess hydrogen and of ammonia at a temperature of 80.degree. to 200.degree. C and a pressure of 20 to 500 atmospheres.