Self-propargating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) of intermetallides provides new means for preparation of highly-active skeletal metal catalysts for hydrogenation of organic and inorganic compounds. Efficiency of the nickel catalyst obtained from SHS intermetallides (specific surface -70 m2/g) is 2-4 times higher for olefines hydrogenation than common Raney nickel catalysts with specific surface-90 m2/g. Hydrogen TPD method indicates more amounts of active sites in the case of SHS metal nickel catalyst than Raney nickel. The efficiency of the iron SHS skeletal catalyst for ammonia synthesis is 2-10 times higher than that for a common furnace catalyst. The activation energy of ammonia synthesis is much lower for the SHS catalysts (175-185 kJ/m) than for the furnace catalysts (245-250 kJ/m). The efficiency of SHS catalysts is comparable with the industrial catalysts of ammonia synthesis.