KINETICS OF 4-NITROPHTHALONITRILE INTERACTION WITH ALKALI-METAL CARBONATES IN VARIOUS SOLVENTS

The interaction of 4-nitrophthalonitrile with alkali metal carbonates in DMFA is shown to proceed on the carbonate surface as a heterophase reaction yielding 4,4'-oxydiphthalonitrile. On addition of a phase tra nsfer catalyst (Bu4NBr), the reaction slows down in the initial stage and then steeply accelerates. In aromatic solvents, the reaction is sh own to occur only in the presence of tetraalkylammonium nitrites, whic h can be produced in situ by the interaction of NaNO2 with Alk4NHal. T he reaction rate is studied versus concentrations of both Alk4NNO2 and water. The maximal yield of 4,4'-oxydiphthalonitrile from 4-nitrophth alonitrile is attained in the Bu4NBr-NaNO2-K2CO3.2H2O system in a chlo robenzene solution.