Nitro-compounds are hydrogenated with an activated Ni catalyst that is doped during and/or after activation with one or more elements from the list of Mg, Ca, Ba, Ti, Zr, Ce, Nb, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Re, Fe, Co, Ir, Ni, Cu, Ag, Au, Rh, Ru and Bi whereas the Ni/Al alloy may not, but preferentially can contain prior to activation one or more doping elements from the list of Ti, Ce, V, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Re, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ir, Pd, Pt and Bi. If the Ni/Al alloy contained one or more of the above mentioned suitable alloy doping elements prior to activation, the resulting catalyst can then be doped with one or more of the elements from the list of Mg, Ca, Ba, Ti, Zr, Ce, V, Nb, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Re, Fe, Ru, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au and Bi by their adsorption onto the surface of the catalyst.