Bayer Aktiengesellschaft

Lothar Jakob

Heinz U Blank

Horst Behre

Dietmar Mayer

Roland Busse

The characteristic of the improved process for the preparation of 1,5-dihydroxynaphthalene and 1,5-diaminonaphthalene is to carry out the alkaline pressure hydrolysis of the disodium salt of naphthalene-1,5-disulphonic acid at temperatures from 270.degree. to 290.degree. C. and under 14 to 20 bar using an excess of sodium hydroxide solution such that the molar ratio NaOH/disodium salt of naphthalenesulphonic acid is at least 12:1. The 1,5-dihydroxynaphthalene which is obtained in this manner, without hazard and in substantially higher purity, is then aminated with ammonia in the presence of ammonium bisulphite to give 1,5-diaminonaphthalene, it being possible to achieve a further increase in the degree of purity of the 1,5-diaminonaphthalene by increasing the molar ratio NH.sub.3 /1,5-dihydroxynaphthalene to at least 6:1.

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Wolfratshausen, Germany

Lothar Jakob