Hydrolysis of o‐ and p‐nitrochlorobenzene with aqueous sodium hydroxide to the corresponding nitrophenols

Abstract

AbstractThe hydrolysis of o‐ and p‐nitrochlorobenzene with aqueous sodium hydroxide was studied at temperatures of 100–160°C and at a pressure corresponding to the vapour pressure of the aqueous solution, so that the system was maintained in the liquid phase. The rate of reaction, as well as the yield and quality of the product, were poor when no catalyst was used. The use of cuprous oxide and manganese dioxide as catalysts was found to be suitable for the process. The effects of temperature, amount of caustic soda, ratio of aqueous phase to organic phase, type and amount of catalyst, speed of agitation and period of reaction on the conversion and yield of nitrophenols were studied with a view to obtaining the most suitable conditions for the production of o‐ and p‐nitrophenol.