PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF N-SUBSTITUTED ORTHO-PHENYLENE-DIAMINES

摘要

1. A process for the preparation of an orthophenylenediamine of the formula I see diagramm : EP0138760,P7,F3 in which R is a hydrogen atom or a group R**7 R**8 CH-, in which each of R**7 and R**8 indepently of the other is unsubstituted or substituted alkyl, alkoxyalkyl or cycloalkyl, or R**7 and R**8 together are (CH2 )n , where n=2 to 12, and each of R**1 , R**2 , R**3 , R**4 , R**5 , R**6 , R**9 , R**10 and R**11 independently is a hydrogen atom, halogen carboxylate, alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, alkoxyalkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl, or each pair of adjacent groups R**1 , R**2 , R**3 and R**9 or R**4 , R**5 , R**6 , R**10 and R**11 is -CH=CH-CH=CH-, or mixtures of those compounds of the formula I in which R is a hydrogen atom or a group R**7 R**8 CH-, which process comprises reacting an azobenzene of the formula see diagramm : EP0138760,P7,F4 in which R**1 to R**6 and R**9 to R**11 are as defined above, with a secondary alcohol of the formula R**7 R**8 CHOH in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst and a basic compound at temperatures of at least 120 degrees C.