Phthalic anhydride from methyl naphthalene

Acid anhydrides as activated derivatives of carboxylic acids have found little attention for the preparation of acid halides. Their use can be justified if they are obtained from other sources than from carboxylic acids, e.g. phthalic anhydride from the oxidation of naphthalene or o-xylene. It is, therefore, no surprise that there exist patents to convert phthalic anhydride to phthalic acid dichloride with carbonyl dichloride in the presence of catalysts. " However, there are some methods available thus a,a-di-chloromethyl methyl ether will convert acid anhydrides to acid chlorides and brenzcatechyl phosphorus tribromide will also achieve this transformation. Fluorides may be prepared similarly with the pyridine/HF mixture of 01ah. °... 

The transformation of arenes in the troposphere has been discussed in detail (Arey 1998). Their destruction can be mediated by reaction with hydroxyl radicals, and from naphthalene a wide range of compounds is produced, including 1- and 2-naphthols, 2-formylcinnamaldehyde, phthalic anhydride, and with less certainty 1,4-naphthoquinone and 2,3-epoxynaphthoquinone. Both 1- and 2-nitronaphthalene were formed through the intervention of NO2 (Bunce et al. 1997). Attention has also been directed to the composition of secondary organic aerosols from the photooxidation of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the presence of NO (Eorstner et al. 1997) the main products from a range of alkylated aromatics were 2,5-furandione and the 3-methyl and 3-ethyl congeners. 

The alkyl naphthalenes, such as methyl naphthalene, may be oxidized to phthalic anhydride in the same manner as naphthalene, thus making it possible to use cruder grades of naphthalene. Thus, crude naphthalene obtained by centrifuging the oils from the proper cut from the distillation of coal-tar (whizzed naphthalene) consisting principally of naphthalene to the extent of 50 to 80 per cent and usually containing considerable quantities of alkyl naphthalenes and other ring compounds may be treated in a manner similar to that used in the oxidation of pure naphthalene. The reaction products contain phthalic anhydride, benzoic acid, naphthoic acids and anhydrides, etc.81... 

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