Methane → Flunixin

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

) A mixture of 2-methyl-3-trifluoromethylaniline (368 g, 2.1 moles) and 2-chloronicotinic acid (158.0 g, 1.0 mole) in 400 ml of water is heated at 100° C. for 24 hours together with p-toluenesulfonic acid (15.0 g) monohydrate as the acid catalyst. Potassium hydroxide (ca. 145 g) in water (255 ml) is added and the pH is maintained above 11. After diluting the reaction mixture to 1.2 liters with water, the mixture is cooled to 50° C., adjusted to pH 11, treated with 7 g of a decolorizing charcoal and 15 g of a filter aid, and clarified by filtration. The flitrate is diluted with 750 ml of water and the pH is adjusted to 5.0 with concentrated sulfuric acid. Agitation of the suspension for 10 minutes and filtration gives crude, precipitated 2-[[2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]amino]-3-pyridinecarboxylic acid (flunixin) (83% yield). The compound can be further purified by crystallization in methanol and washing with water.

Provenance & Evidence