Meta-aminophenol(s) prepn. by amination of resorcinol - in inert organic solvent using aluminosilicate catalyst and ammonia, intermediate for dyes, pharmaceuticals, resin and agrochemicals

摘要

Prepn. of m-aminophenols of formula (I) is new where R1 and R2 are each H, 1-12 alkyl, or R1 and R2 together form a cyclic amine selected from piperidines, pyrrolidines and morpholines. The process comprises reacting resorcinol with an aminating agent selected from NH3, prim. amines and sec. amines of formula HNR1R2. The improvement comprises running the reaction in an organic solvent with an anhydrous aminating agent in the presence of a silica alumina catalyst. More specifically, the catalyst is pref. an activated clay and has a silica to alumina ratio of from 2 to about 100, the catalyst being present in an amt. from 10-100 pts. st. of resorcinol. Pref. the solvent is toluene, xylene, trimethylbenzene, phenol, cresol, xylenol and alkyl phenols. The pref. ratio of resorcinol to aminating agent is from 1:1 to 1:5 and the pref. aminating agent is NH3.