Stauffer Chemical Company

Avinash Kachhy

Henry J Barda

A process for photochlorinating aromatic compounds in the side chain and, in particular, a process for the selective chlorination of a 2-alkyl group of 2-alkyl benzoic acid or ester is disclosed. In this process, hydrogen chloride is added to the benzoic acid or ester prior to adding chlorine in the presence of actinic radiation at a reaction temperature below the decomposition temperature of the resulting chlorinated acid or ester. A typical aromatic compound is methyl 2-methylbenzoate and the reaction is preferably carried out at a temperature ranging from about -20.degree. C. to 20.degree. C.

Photochlorination of aromatic compounds in the side chain

A process for purifying crude substituted phthalic anhydrides, e.g. 4-methylphthalic anhydride, derived from the dehydrogenation in the presence of bromine of a Diels-Alder addition product of a conjugated diene, e.g. isoprene, and maleic anhydride. In this process, a mixture of the crude, liquid substituted phthalic anhydride, e.g. 4-methylphthalic anhydride, and an alkali is heated to a temperature effective to reduce the impurities present in the crude substituted phthalic anhydride. Suitable alkalis can include sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate. Mild alkalis are heated to a higher temperature, e.g. 130.degree. C. for sodium carbonate, whereas stronger alkalis are heated to a lower temperature, e.g. 90.degree. C. for sodium hydroxide.

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Edison, NJ, United States of America

Avinash Kachhy