PROCESS FOR PREPARING 4-AMINODIPHENYLAMINE INTERMEDIATES

摘要

The invention is directed to a method of producing 4-aminodiphenylamine comprising the steps of: (a)reacting an aniline or derivative thereof and nitrobenzene in a confined zone in the presence of a mixture comprising a base and an oxidant comprising hydrogen peroxide in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 0.60 moles of hydrogen peroxide to moles of nitrobenzene to obtain at least one 4-amino­diphenylamine intermediate; and (b) reducing the intermediate to 4-aminodiphenylamine, and (c) optionally, reductively alkylating 4-aminodiphenylamine to an alkylated derivative of the 4-aminodiphenylamine. The invention further pertains to a method of producing a 4-aminodiphenylamine intermediate as obtained in the above reaction.