Hydrated niobium oxide and hydrated tantalum oxide catalysts, their preparation and a process for preparing N-alkylated anilines using these catalysts

摘要

New hydrated niobium oxide and hydrated tantalum oxide catalysts containing pores having diameters in the range from 0.4 to 10, 000 nm are characterized in that the volume of the pores of the catalyst having a diameter of from 100 to 1000 nm is at least 30% of the total pore volume of the catalyst. The catalysts can be prepared by mixing hydrated niobium oxide or hydrated tantalum oxide with an inert solid and converting this mixture into a solid pellet form, with the pressure in the apparatus for preparing catalysts in pellet form being set in such a way that the volume of the pores of the catalyst having a diameter of from 100 to 1000 nm is at least 30% of the total pore volume of the catalyst. Such catalysts are particularly suitable for preparing N- alkylanilines from anilines and alkanols.