Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited

Michio Yamato

Motoo Hazama

Tooru Tokumaru

Yoshinori Nakayama

Akira Murakami

Kan Takamine

There is disclosed a process for producing an aromatic amide compound of the general formula (4), including the steps of subjecting an o-nitrophenol compound of the general formula (1) to catalytic reduction in acetone or an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent under the presence of a nickel catalyst to give an o-aminophenol compound of the general formula (2); and (b) subjecting the o-aminophenol compound of the general formula (2) to condensation with an acid chloride compound having a sulfur content of 0.5% or less, based on the weight of the acid chloride compound, of the general formula (3) in acetone or an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent under an atmosphere of an inert gas having an oxygen concentration of 1% or less. The acid chloride compound having a sulfur content of 0.5% or less, based on the weight of the acid chloride compound, of the general formula (3) may be obtained by allowing a carboxylic acid compound of the general formula (5) to react with thionyl chloride and by concentrating the reaction mixture. Also disclosed is another process for producing an aromatic amide compound of the general formula (4), including the step of subjecting an o-aminophenol hydrochloride salt of the general formula (6) to condensation with an acid chloride compound having a sulfur content of 0.8% or less, based on the weight of the acid chloride compound, of the general formula (3) in an inert solvent.

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Oita, Japan

Michio Yamato