Abstract:
Mixtures of isomeric dihalonitrobenzenes, one isomer of which has a halogen atom in a position ortho to the nitro group, are separated by reacting the mixture at a temperature of at least 120 DEG C. with a specified inorganic cyanide in the presence of an organic diluent hereinafter specified, thus preferentially converting the said isomer to a halogenated ortho-cyanonitrobenzene, and then separating this orthocyanitrobenzene from the other unchanged isomer e.g., by steam distillation or solvent extraction with light petroleum. Inorganic cyanides specified are alkali-metal cyanides, cuprous cyanide, a mixture of an alkali-metal cyanide and cuprous cyanide, or an alkali metal cyanide-cuprous cyanide complex. Organic diluents specified are tertiary amines, such as pyridine, dialkylcarbonamides, such as dimethylformamide, and dialkylsulphoxides, such as dimethyl sulphoxide. An inert diluent such as an aromatic hydrocarbon, nitrobenzene or chlorobenzene may also be present. The halogen substituents in the isomers may be chlorine, bromine or iodine. Examples are given, illustrating the separation of mixtures of 2:3-dichloronitrobenzen and 3:4-dichloronitrobenzene, by conversion of the former into a mixture of the 2,5- and 3,4-dihalonitrobenzenes may also be similarly treated.