Toluene synthesis

A. P. Gelbein, Toluene—Synthesis Gas Based Routes to Styrene, A.n Assessment, ACS Petro Chemical Division, New York, Aug. 23—28,1981. 

The synthesis of 9H-benzo[2,l-e]thiazolo-[2,3-c]-as-triazine (401) was achieved by oxydative cyclization of 2-imino-3-(o-aminophenyl)-4-phenyl-4-thiazoline (718, 719). This latter reacts also with paraformaldehyde in hot toluene yielding 3-phenyl-9H.10H-benzo[l,2-/]thiazolo-[2,3-d][l,3,5]triazepine (402) (720). This heterocyclic sytem is also formed when carboxylic acids replace paraformaldehyde (Scheme 230) (721). 

A related problem concerns the synthesis of p nitrobenzoic acid Here two meta directing substituents are para to each other This compound has been prepared from toluene according to the procedure shown... 

Wnte equations showing how to prepare each of the following from benzene or toluene and any necessary organic or inorganic reagents If an ortho para mixture is formed in any step of your synthesis assume that you can separate the two isomers... 

Nitrile Synthesis. Cyanogen bromide [506-68-3] condenses with toluene in the presence of aluminum chloride to give -tolunittile (129). 

More recently, a commercial process has been introduced for the manufacture of methyl isocyanate (MIC) which involves the dehydrogenation of /V-m ethyl form am i de [123-39-7] in the presence of palladium, platinum [7440-06-4], or mthenium [7440-18-8], at temperatures between 50—300°C (31). Aprotic solvents, such as ben2ene [71-43-2], xylenes, or toluene [108-88-3], may optionally be used. A variation of this synthesis employs stoichiometric amounts of palladium chloride [7647-10-1], PdCl2. 

A convenient method for the synthesis of these low boiling materials consists of the reaction of /V,/V-dimethy1iirea [96-31-1] with toluene diisocyanate to yield an aUphatic—aromatic urea (84). Alternatively, an appropriate aUphatic—aromatic urea can be prepared by the reaction of diphenylcarbamoyl chloride [83-01-2] with methylamine. Thermolysis of either of the mixed ureas produces methyl isocyanate ia high yield (3,85). 

Synthesis ofp-Ethyltoluene. j )i7n7-Ethyltoluene, the feedstock for j )-methylstyrene, is difficult to separate from the products of toluene alkylation with ethane using conventional acidic catalysts. The unique configurational diffusion effect of ZSM-5 permits -dialkylbenzenes to be produced in one step. In the alkylation of toluene with ethene over a chemically modified ZSM-5, -ethyltoluene is obtained at 97% purity (58). 

NMP are examples of suitable solvents for PES and PPSF polymerizations. Chlorobenzene or toluene are used as cosolvents at low concentrations. These cosolvents form an azeotrope with water as they distill out of the reaction mixture, thereby keeping the polymerization medium dehydrated. Potassium carbonate is a suitable choice for base. The synthesis of PES and PPSE differ from the PSE case in that the reaction is carried out in a single-step process. In other words, the formation of the dipotassium salt of the bisphenol is not completed in a separate first step. Equations 2 and 3 represent polymerizations based on the dipotassium salts of bisphenol S and biphenol to make PES and PPSE, respectively. 

The selective alkylation of toluene with methanol to produce -xylene as a predominant isomer can be achieved over shape-selective catalysts (99—101). With a modified ZSM-5 zeoHte catalyst, more than 99% -xylene in xylene isomers can be produced at 550°C. This -xylene concentration exceeds the equiHbrium concentration of 23% (99). The selective synthesis of -xylene using relatively low cost toluene is economically attractive however, this technology was not commercialized as of 1991. 

Continuous-Flow Stirred-Tank Reactors. The synthesis of j )-tolualdehyde from toluene and carbon monoxide has been carried out using CSTR equipment (81). -Tolualdehyde (PTAL) is an intermediate in the manufacture of terephthabc acid. Hydrogen fluoride—boron trifluoride catalyzes the carbonylation of toluene to PTAL. In the industrial process, separate stirred tanks are used for each process step. Toluene and recycle HF and BF ... 

The most recent, and probably most elegant, process for the asymmetric synthesis of (+)-estrone appHes a tandem Claisen rearrangement and intramolecular ene-reaction (Eig. 23). StereochemicaHy pure (185) is synthesized from (2R)-l,2-0-isopropyhdene-3-butanone in an overall yield of 86% in four chemical steps. Heating a toluene solution of (185), enol ether (187), and 2,6-dimethylphenol to 180°C in a sealed tube for 60 h produces (190) in 76% yield after purification. Ozonolysis of (190) followed by base-catalyzed epimerization of the C8a-hydrogen to a C8P-hydrogen (again similar to conversion of (175) to (176)) produces (184) in 46% yield from (190). Aldehyde (184) was converted to 9,11-dehydroestrone methyl ether (177) as discussed above. The overall yield of 9,11-dehydroestrone methyl ether (177) was 17% in five steps from 6-methoxy-l-tetralone (186) and (185) (201). 

Chem Systems Inc. proposed a process in which ben2yl alcohol obtained by an undisclosed direct oxidation of toluene is homologated with synthesis gas to yield 2-phen5iethyl alcohol, which is then readily dehydrated to styrene (57). This process eliminates the intermediate formation of methanol from synthesis gas but does require the independent production of ben2yl alcohol. 

The performance of many metal-ion catalysts can be enhanced by doping with cesium compounds. This is a result both of the low ionization potential of cesium and its abiUty to stabilize high oxidation states of transition-metal oxo anions (50). Catalyst doping is one of the principal commercial uses of cesium. Cesium is a more powerflil oxidant than potassium, which it can replace. The amount of replacement is often a matter of economic benefit. Cesium-doped catalysts are used for the production of styrene monomer from ethyl benzene at metal oxide contacts or from toluene and methanol as Cs-exchanged zeofltes ethylene oxide ammonoxidation, acrolein (methacrolein) acryflc acid (methacrylic acid) methyl methacrylate monomer methanol phthahc anhydride anthraquinone various olefins chlorinations in low pressure ammonia synthesis and in the conversion of SO2 to SO in sulfuric acid production. 

The petroleum industry is now the principal suppHer of ben2ene, toluene, the xylenes, and naphthalene (see BTX processing Feedstocks). Petroleum displaced coal tar as the primary source for these aromatic compounds after World War II because it was relatively cheap and abundantly available. However, the re-emergence of king coal is predicted for the twenty-first century, when oil suppHes are expected to dwindle and the cost of producing chemicals from coal (including new processes based on synthesis gas) will gradually become more competitive (3). 

Lipase-catalyzed enantioselective transesterification of 0-substituted-l,2-diols is another practical route for the synthesis of P-blockers. Lipase PS suspended in toluene catalyzes the transesterification of (63) with vinyl acetate to give the (5)-ester in 43% yield and >98% ee (78). The desired product, optically pure (R)-ttitylglycidol, is then easily obtained by treating the ester with alcohoHc alkaU. Moreover, Pseudomonas Hpase catalyzes the acylation of oxazohdinone (64) with acetic anhydride in very good yield and selectivity (74). PPL-catalyzed transesterification of a number of /n j -norbomene derivatives proceeds in about 30% yield and 92% ee (79,80). 

Dipoles can also be built into heterocyclic systems, and though of limited use, they may also be utilized for the synthesis of [5,6] ring-fused systems. Reaction of 2 3H)-benzothiazolethione with (chlorocarbonyl)phenylketene in warm anhydrous benzene gave the heteroaromatic betaine (416). On heating with DMAD in boiling toluene the tricyclic pyridinone (418) was obtained, presumably by elimination of COS from the intermediate cycloadduct (417) (80JOC2474). 

Unbumed Hydrocarbons Various unburned hydrocarbon species may be emitted from hydrocarbon flames. In general, there are two classes of unburned hydrocarbons (1) small molecules that are the intermediate products of combustion (for example, formaldehyde) and (2) larger molecules that are formed by pyro-synthesis in hot, fuel-rich zones within flames, e.g., benzene, toluene, xylene, and various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Many of these species are listed as Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) in Title III of the Clean Air Act Amendment of 1990 and are therefore of particular concern. In a well-adjusted combustion system, emission or HAPs is extremely low (typically, parts per trillion to parts per billion). However, emission of certain HAPs may be of concern in poorly designed or maladjusted systems. 

Synthesis of stilbenes by base catalyzed condensation of reactive toluenes with benzalanillnes. 

---