Process for making nitro and amino substituted benzamides

A process for the production of nitrobenzamides or aminobenzamides having the formula:

• ##STR7## in which n is 1 or 2, X is an amino or nitro group and R is hydrogen, unsubstituted alkyl or alkyl substituted by halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxy, phenyl, carboxyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkoxycarbonyl, a mono- or di-C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkylated amino group or by --SO.sub.3 M in which M is hydrogen, an alkali metal atom, ammonium or a cation formed from an amine,
• which process comprises reacting a nitrobenzoyl chloride having the formula:
• ##STR8## in which n has its previous significance, with an aqueous solution of an amine having the formula NH.sub.2 --R in which R has its previous significance, in the presence of an inert organic solvent selected from the group consisting of acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, diethyl ketone, dipropyl ketone or dibutyl ketone, and in the presence of aqueous sodium hydroxide as acid acceptor, to produce a compound having the formula:
• ##STR9## in which n and R have their previous significance;
• and finally optionally reducing the nitro group(s) to amino group(s).