PRODUCTION OF N,N'-DIPHENYL-PHENYLENEDIAMINE OR ITS NUCLEUS-SUBSTITUTED DERIVATIVE

摘要

PURPOSE:To produce the titled compound useful as an intermediate of dyes, etc., easily, in high yield, by reacting a phenolic compound, a phenylenediamine compound and a cyclohexanone compound corresponding to said phenolic compound in the presence of a hydrogen-transfer catalyst under heating. CONSTITUTION:The titled compound is produced economically in an industrial scale, by the thermal reaction of (A) phenol or its nucleus-substituted derivative with (B) phenylenediamine or its nucleus-substituted derivative and (C) a cyclohexanone compound corresponding to the compound A in the presence of a hydrogen-transfer catalyst (especially palladium). The reaction may be started without adding the compound C to the reaction system, by using the compound A in excess, and converting a part of the compound A to the compound C in the compound B under hydrogen pressure. In either case, the molar ratio of the compound A to the compound B is preferably 2-20. After separating the titled compound from the heated mass, the compound A containing the by-produced compound C can be recycled to the reaction system.