Water → 4-Methyl-3,5-dinitrobenzonitrile

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Phosphorus oxychloride (27.2 kg) is added over 30 minutes to a mixture of 4-methyl-3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid (3) (20.7 kg) and sulfamide (19.9 kg) in sulfolane (118 kg). The mixture is heated to about 120° C. and aged for about 8 hours. After cooling to ambient temperature, water (104 L) is added and the mixture is cooled to about 5° C. to crystallize the product. After aging at least 1.5 hours, the product is isolated via centrifugation, and washed with water (142 L). The product is then removed from the centrifuge and dried in a convection tray dryer at about 60° C. until drying is complete to provide 4-methyl-3,5-dinitrobenzonitrile (4) (17.3 kg, 91% yield) as a tan solid.

Provenance & Evidence