Dihalo terephthalic acid process

5-Dibromo-l,4-xylene or its 2,5-dichloro derivative is obtained by bromination or, correspondingly, chlorination of 1,4-xylene. It is oxidized to form 2,5-dibro-moterephthalic acid or its dichloro derivative 59. Subsequent reaction with aryl-amine, for instance in the presence of copper acetate, affords 2,5-diarylamino-terephthalic acid 60. It is also possible to replace the halogen atoms stepwise by arylamino moieties [11]. Cyclization to form linear trans-quinacridones, as in the above-mentioned method, is achieved by using acidic condensation agents  

Although the synthesis is completed in very few steps, oxidation of 1,4-xylene to the corresponding terephthalic acid does not afford a uniform product. Partial dihalogenation gives rise to side products. The condensation reaction requires two equivalents of arylamine per halogen atom. One equivalent is needed to neutralize the generated hydrohalogen acid, which is subsequently separated as aryl-amine-hydrohalide and recycled as hydrohalide and arylamine. 

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