Naphthalenesulfonic acids

Disodium salt of 6-hydroxy-5-[(2-methoxy-5-methyl-4-sulfophenyl)a2o]-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid... 

Sulfonation. Sulfonation of naphthalene with sulfuric acid produces mono-, di-, tri-, and tetranaphthalenesulfonic acids (see Naphthalene derivatives), ah of the naphthalenesulfonic acids form salts with most bases. Naphthalenesulfonic acids are important starting materials in the manufacture of organic dyes (15) (see Azo dyes). They also are intermediates used in reactions, eg, caustic fusion to yield naphthols, nitration to yield nitronaphthalenesulfonic acids, etc. 

Naphthalenesulfonic acids are important chemical precursors for dye intermediates, wetting agents and dispersants, naphthols, and air-entrainment agents for concrete. The production of many intermediates used for making a2o, a2oic, and triphenylmethane dyes (qv) involves naphthalene sulfonation and one or more unit operations, eg, caustic fusion, nitration, reduction, or amination. 

Generally, the sulfonation of naphthalene leads to a mixture of products. Naphthalene sulfonation at less than ca 100°C is kineticaHy controlled and produces predominandy 1-naphthalenesulfonic acid (4). Sulfonation of naphthalene at above ca 150°C provides thermodynamic control of the reaction and 2-naphthalenesulfonic acid as the main product. Reaction conditions for the sulfonation of naphthalene to yield desired products are given in Figure 1 alternative paths are possible. A Hst of naphthalenesulfonic acids and some of their properties is given in Table 1. 

Naphthalenesulfonic Acid. The sulfonation of naphthalene with excess 96 wt % sulfuric acid at < 80°C gives > 85 wt % 1-naphthalenesulfonic acid (a-acid) the balance is mainly the 2-isomer (P-acid). An older German commercial process is based on the reaction of naphthalene with 96 wt % sulfuric acid at 20—50°C (13). The product can be used unpurifted to make dyestuff intermediates by nitration or can be sulfonated further. The sodium salt of 1-naphthalenesulfonic acid is required, for example, for the conversion of 1-naphthalenol (1-naphthol) by caustic fusion. In this case, the excess sulfuric acid first is separated by the addition of lime and is filtered to remove the insoluble calcium sulfate the filtrate is treated with sodium carbonate to precipitate calcium carbonate and leave the sodium l-naphthalenesulfonate/7J(9-/4-J7 in solution. The dry salt then is recovered, typically, by spray-drying the solution. 

Fig. 1. Selected paths to naphthalenesulfonic acids where N = naphthalene, SA = sulfonic acid, and yld = yield.

The older methods have been replaced by methods which require less, if any, excess sulfuric acid. For example, sulfonation of naphthalene can be carried out in tetrachloroethane solution with the stoichiometric amount of sulfur trioxide at no greater than 30°C, followed by separation of the precipitated l-naphthalenesulfonic acid the filtrate can be reused as the solvent for the next batch (14). The purification of 1-naphthalenesulfonic acid by extraction or washing the cake with 2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanone (diisobutyl ketone) or a C-1—4 alcohol has been described (15,16). The selective insoluble salt formation of 1-naphthalenesulfonic acid in the sulfonation mixture with 2,3-dimethyl aniline has been patented (17). 

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