CARBONYLATIVE REDUCTION OF AROMATIC NITRODERIVATIVES TO ARYLAMINES CATALYZED BY SULFUR-COMPOUNDS

Aromatic nitroderivatives e.g. nitrobenzene can be carbonylatively red uced with CO in water-methanol media, at 120-150-degrees-C and 10-15 M Pa pressure. Aniline is obtained with selectivity over 97% at 100% nit robenzene conversion. Reaction proceeds in the presence of multicompon ent catalyst consisting of the base (favourable are the strong bases: sodium hydroxide or methoxide) and sulfur compound. The ratio of catal ytic effectiveness of sulfur compounds is as follows S:CS2:H2S:COS = 1 :1.3:10:10. Vanadium (V) compound can be added to improve selectivity of aniline formation. Aromatic dinitroderivatives undergo this reactio n and selectivity to one of two main products (phenylenediamine or nit roaniline) can be switched by the choice of reaction conditions.