Preparation of N-substituted-N'-phenyl p-phenylenediamines

摘要

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a N-substituted-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine of the formula: <IMAGE> comprising reacting (a) a mixture of (1) N-phenyl-p-quinoneimine of the formula: <IMAGE> and (2) p-hydroxydiphenylamine in a mole ratio of N-phenyl-p-quinoneimine to p-hydroxydiphenylamine of from 1.5:1 to 1:1.5 with (b) a primary amine of the formula: R1-NH2 in the presence of methanol wherein R1 is selected from the group of radicals consisting of alkyls having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, cycloalkyls having 6 to 8 carbon atoms and radicals of the structural formula: <IMAGE> wherein R2 may be the same or different and is independently selected from the group of radicals consisting of hydrogen and an alkyl having 1 carbon atom, R3 is selected from the group of radicals consisting of an alkyl having 1 to 12 carbon atoms and n is an integer of from 0 to 6.