Acid continued impurities

The cmde phthaUc anhydride is subjected to a thermal pretreatment or heat soak at atmospheric pressure to complete dehydration of traces of phthahc acid and to convert color bodies to higher boiling compounds that can be removed by distillation. The addition of chemicals during the heat soak promotes condensation reactions and shortens the time required for them. Use of potassium hydroxide and sodium nitrate, carbonate, bicarbonate, sulfate, or borate has been patented (30). Purification is by continuous vacuum distillation, as shown by two columns in Figure 1. The most troublesome impurity is phthahde (l(3)-isobenzofuranone), which is stmcturaHy similar to phthahc anhydride. Reactor and recovery conditions must be carefully chosen to minimize phthahde contamination (31). Phthahde [87-41-2] is also reduced by adding potassium hydroxide during the heat soak (30). 

After dilution with 200 ml. of benzene, the solution is transferred to a 2-1. separatory funnel containing 800 ml. of ice water and shaken thoroughly. The aqueous layer is separated, acidified to pH 3-4 with 2-3 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid, and extracted with three 100-ml. portions of benzene. All the organic layers are then combined and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. Filtration and concentration of the solution with a rotary evaporator, followed by exposure to high vacuum for 2-3 hours, affords 17.3-19.3 g. of the crude product (Note 3). Low-boiling impurities are removed by vacuum distillation (Note 4), the residual oil (14-15 g.) is transferred to a 50-ml. flask equipped with a short-path distillation apparatus, and vacuum distillation is continued. A forerun is taken until no rise in boiling point is observed, and then 7.2-8.6 g. (23-27%) of dimethyl nitrosuccinate is collected as a colorless oil, b.p. 85° (0.07 mm.), 1.4441 (Note 5). 

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