Ammonia → 3,5-Bis(trifluoromethyl)benzylamine

At first, a 1-liter autoclave equipped with a mechanical stirrer was charged with 200 g (0.84 mol) of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile, 200 ml of methanol, and 6 g of a catalyst (i.e., a carbon powder (50% wet) carrying thereon 5% palladium), followed by introduction of 14 g of liquid ammonia and then introduction of hydrogen to have a pressure of 1 MPa. Then, the reaction mixture was stirred, while the reaction temperature was maintained at 20° C. and while hydrogen was gradually introduced into the autoclave in a manner to maintain the total pressure at 1 MPa. After conducting the reaction for 3 hr, the reaction was stopped, followed by removing the catalyst by filtration. As a result of analyzing the obtained reaction liquid by gas chromatography, 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzylamine was formed at a yield of 85.1%.