Processes for producing 4,6-bis (substituted)phenylazoresorcinols

Abstract

A process for producing 4,6-bisphenylazoresorcinol of formula ›2! wherein R represents halogen atom, C.sub.1-5 alkyl group, hydroxycarbonyl or C.sub.1-5 alkoxy group, n represents 0 or an integer of 1 to 5, and two or more Rs are the same or different from each other, which comprises reacting resorcinol with a benzenediazonium salt of formula ›1! wherein R and n are the same as defined in the above formula ›1!, and X represents Cl, Br, OSO.sub.3 H or OPO.sub.3 H.sub.2, in an alkaline solvent, characterized in that (a) a solution of the compound of the formula ›1! is mixed with a solution or suspension of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxide to obtain an alkaline mixture, and this alkaline mixture is mixed to be reacted with a solution or suspension containing resorcinol and/or its alkali metal salt or alkaline earth metal salt, or (b) a solution of the compound of formula ›1! is mixed to be reacted with a solution or suspension of a mixture of resorcinol with its alkali metal hydroxide or alkaline earth metal hydroxide 15 to 40 times by mol as much as the resorcinol. By the above-described method, the reaction volume can be reduced as compared with the conventional processes, and 4,6-bisphenylazoresorcinol can be obtained in high yield.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.