Lithium Chloride → 2-Chloro-1,3-dimethyl-5-nitrobenzene

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Reaction Steps

4-Nitro-2,6-dimethylphenyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (4.06 kg, 13.6 mol) is dissolved in anhydrous N-methylpyrrolidinone (42 L) and to this solution is added anhydrous lithium chloride (900 g) all at once. The internal temperature is raised to 120° at which time the color changes to a dark golden brown. After 10 hours at this temperature the color of the solution is dark brown. The reaction is then cooled to 5° and diluted with cold water (5°, 21 L) at such a rate as to keep the temperature below 15°. After the addition is complete the mixture is stirred for 1 hour at 5°. The product is collected by filtration and washed with water (4×1 L). This dark brown solid is dissolved in t-butyl methyl ether (42 L) and stirred first with charcoal and then anhydrous magnesium sulfate (10 pounds). After filtration the solvents are removed in vacuo (40°, 3 Torr) to obtain a tan solid which is dried in vacuo (25°, 3 Torr) for 2 days to obtain 4-chloro-3,5-dimethylnitrobenzene, m.p. 101°-105°.

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