Flexsys America L.p.

Edward Albert Lambers

Roger Keranen Rains

Antonius Johannes Van Hengstum

Ralph Albert Genetti

A process for preparing an optionally substituted 4-aminodiphenylamine comprising reacting an optionally substituted aniline and an optionally substituted nitrobenzene in the presence of water and a base while controlling the water content so as to ensure a molar ratio of water to the base charged of not less than about 4:1 at the start of the coupling reaction and not less than about 0.6:1 at the end of the coupling reaction to produce 4-nitrodiphenylamine and/or 4-nitrosodiphenylamine and/or salts thereof. The coupling reaction is followed by a hydrogenation reaction where the coupling reaction product is hydrogenated in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst and added water so as to ensure a molar ratio of total water to base of at least about 4:1 at the end of hydrogenation. Aqueous and organic phases are obtained and the optionally substituted 4-aminodiphenylamine recovered from the organic phase.

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Copley, OH, United States of America

Edward Albert Lambers