Nitrochlorobenzenes

Chlorobenzenes remain important intermediates for the production of nitrated chlorine compounds, particularly o- and p-nitrochlorobenzene. 

The nitration of chlorobenzene with a mixed acid reagent comprising around 35% nitric acid, 53% sulfuric acid and 12% water, at temperatures of from 40 to 80 °C and a HNOa/chlorobenzene molar ratio of around 1 gives a 98% yield of an isomeric mixture consisting of around 33% o-chloronitrobenzene, 66% p-chloro-nitrobenzene and 1% m-chloronitrobenzene. 

The isomers are separated by a combination of distillation and crystallization, the lower melting point of o-chloronitrobenzene (33 °C) facilitates separation by crystallization from p-chloronitrobenzene, which melts at 83.5 °C. 

One of the uses of o-chloronitrobenzene is in the production of o-chloroaniline, which is obtained by catalytic reduction with sulfided palladium/active carbon catalysts. These catalysts enable dechlorination to be suppressed. 

4 -Tetraaniinobiphenyl (3,3 -diaminobenzidine), produced from o-chloro nitrobenzene, is used in the manufacture of high-temperature resistant benzimidazole polymers (PBI), which are produced by reaction with diphenyl isophthalate (Hoechst-Celanese), 

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Prepared by heating p-nitrochlorobenzene with concentrated aqueous ammonia in an autoclave at 170°C. It is also prepared by alkaline hydrolysis of p-nitroacetanilide or by nitrating and hydrolysing benzylideneaniline. 

The nitrochlorobenzenes are valuable dyestufTs intermediates. The presence of the nitro-groups makes the chlorine atom very reactive and easily replaceable. Treatment with ammonia or dilute alkalis substitutes an amino- or hydroxy-group for the chlorine atom and gives a series of nilroanilines and nilrophenols. 

DinitrophenyI derivatives. The halogen atom in 2 4-di-nitrochlorobenzene is reactive and coloured crystalline compounds (usually yellow or red) are formed with primary and with secondary amines ... 

Properties. The physical properties of the ortho, meta, and para isomers of nitrochlorobenzene are summarized in Table 7. 

Health nd Safety Factors. The mononitrochlorobenzenes are toxic substances which may be absorbed through the skin and lungs giving rise to methemoglobin. Their toxicity is about the same as or greater than that of nitrobenzene. The para isomer is less toxic than the ortho isomer, and the maximum allowable concentration that has been adopted for -nitrochlorobenzene is 1 mg/m (0.1 ppm) (6). The mononitrochlorobenzenes are moderate fire hazards when exposed to heat or flame. They ate classified by the ICC as Class-B poisons. The same handling precautions should be used for these compounds as are used for nitrobenzene. 

Uses. (9-Nitrochlorobenzene is used in the synthesis of azo dye intermediates such as o-chloroaniline (Fast YeUow G Base), i9-nitroani1ine (Fast Orange GR Base), o-anisidine (Fast Red BB Base), o-phenetidine, and (9-aminophenol (see Azo dyes). It also is used in corrosion inhibitors, pigments, and agriculture chemicals. -Nitrochlorobenzene is used principally in the production of intermediates for azo and sulfur dyes. Other uses include pharmaceuticals (qv), photochemicals, mbber chemicals (qv), and insecticides (see Insectcontroltechnology). Typical intermediates manufactured from the para isomer are -lutioaruline (Fast Red GC Base), anisidine, -aminophenol, -nitrophenol, -phenylenediamine, 2-chloro-/)-anisidine (Fast Red R Base), 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene, and l,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene. 

Dinitrochlorobenzene can be manufactured by either dinitration of chlorobenzene in filming sulfuric acid or nitration ofy -nitrochlorobenzene with mixed acids. Further substitution on the aromatic ring is difficult because of the deactivating effect of the chlorine atom, but the chlorine is very reactive and is displaced even more readily than in the mononitrochlorobenzenes. 

In 1988, the United States consumption of monochlorobenzene was 120 million kilograms 42% for the production of nitrochlorobenzenes, 28% for solvent uses, and the remaining 30% for other appHcations such as diphenyl ether, ortho- and i ra-phenylphenols, sulfone polymers, and diphenyldichlorosilane, an intermediate for specialty siHcones. 

Monochlorobenzene. The largest use of monochlorobenzene in the United States is in the production of nitrochlorobenzenes, both ortho and para, which are separated and used as intermediates for mbber chemicals, antioxidants (qv), dye and pigment intermediates, agriculture products, and pharmaceuticals (Table 5). Since the mid-1980s, there have been substantial exports of both o-nitrochlorobenzene, estimated at 7.7 million kg to Europe and -nitrochlorobenzene, estimated at 9.5 million kg to the Far East. Solvent use of monochlorobenzene accounted for about 28% of the U.S. consumption. This appHcation involves solvents for herbicide production and the solvent for diphenylmethane diisocyanate manufacture and other chemical intermediates. 

Nitrochlorobenzene from chlorobenzene and nitric acid Nitration... 

Kinetics of the reaction of p-nitrochlorobenzene with the sodium enolate of ethyl cyanoacetate are consistent with this mechanism. Also, radical scavengers have no effect on the reaction, contrary to what would be expected for a chain mechanism in which aryl radicals would need to encounter the enolate in a propagation step. The reactant, /i-nitrophenyl chloride, however, is one which might also react by the addition-elimination mechanism, and the postulated mechanism is essentially the stepwise electron-transfer version of this mechanism. The issue then becomes the question of whether the postulated radical pair is a distinct intermediate. 

Nitric acid, 98 Nitric oxide, 98 Nitrilotriacetic acid, 98 p-Nitroaiiiline, 99 Nitrobenzene, 99 Nitrocarbono SA, 146 Nitrocellulose, 99 p-Nitrochlorobenzene, 99 Nitroethane, 99 Nitrofen, 99 Nitrogen, 99 Nitrogen dioxide, 99 Nitrogen oxides, 99 Nitrogen trifluoride, 99 Nitroglycerin, 100 Nitrokemia 200 Rt., 167 Nitromethane, 100 5-Nitro-o-anisidine, 99 5-Nitro-o-toluidine, 100 Nitrophenols, 100... 

The enamine (28) did not undergo C arylation with p-nitrochlorobenzene under these conditions, and at higher temperatures N arylation and subsequent eleavage with formation of N-(4-nitrophenyl) pyrrolidine takes place (68). 

In the arylations of enamines with very reactive aryl halides (352,370) such as 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene, the closely related mechanistic pathway of addition of the enamine to the aromatic system, followed by elimination of halide ion, can be assumed. The use of n-nitroarylhalides furnishes compounds which can be converted to indolic products by reductive cycliza-tion. Less reactive aryl halides, such as p-nitrochlorobenzene, lead only to N-arylation or oxidation products of the enamines under more vigorous conditions. 

Bunnett and co-workers have shown that an or Ao-carboxy-late anion decreases the rate of reaction of 4-nitrochlorobenzene with methoxide ion but rather strongly increases the reaction rate with piperidine. This effect arises from an accelerative increase in the... 

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