• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.293-298
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• 1999

Reaction mechanism was elucidated and reaction condition were optimized for the catalytic reaction synthesizing 2-methyl-4-methoxy-diphenylamine (MMDPA) which is an intermediate of Fluoran heat-sensitive dyestuff. Reactants consisted of 2-methyl-4-methoxyaniline (MMA), 3-methyl-4-nitroanisole (MNA), and cyclohexanone, and 5 wt % Pd/C was used as a catalyst. Experiments were run in an open slurry reactor equipped with reflux condenser, and products were analyzed by means of GC/MS and NMR. MMDPA yield of 90 mole % could be obtained after reaction time of 8~10 hours under the optimal reaction conditions comprising the reaction mass composition of MMA : MNA : cyclohexanone = 1 : 2 : 150 based on MMA input of 0.01 gmoles in xylene solvent, reaction temperature of $160^{\circ}C$, and catalyst amount of 0.5 g. It was found that the rate-determining step of overall reaction was dehydrogenation of the intermediate product obtained from condensation of MMA and cyclohexanone. Overall reaction rate and MMDPA yield were enhanced owing to hydrogen transfer reaction by introducing MNA together with MMA in the reaction mass. Excess cyclohexanone in the reaction mass played an important role of promoting the condensation of MMA and cyclohexanone.