Process for the preparation of salts of 1-substituted 2,4-diaminobenzenes

A process for preparing a salt of 1-substituted 2,4-diaminobenzenes of the formula (I)

• wherein each R1 is a component comprising a member selected from the group consisting of linear C1-C20-alkyl groups, branched C1-C20-alkyl groups, C6-C18-aryl groups, C2-C20-acyl groups, COOH groups, COOR3 groups;
• wherein R3 is a linear or a branched C1-C20-alkyl radical, or a N(R4)2 group, in which each R4 is hydrogen, a linear or a branched C1-C20-alkyl radical or a C2-C20-acyl radical, and n is an integer from 0 to 3;
• R2 is a radical of the formula (II)
• wherein each R5 is hydrogen or a C1-C5-alkyl radical, m is an integer from 1 to 12 and p is an integer from 1 to 4, or a radical of the formula (III),
• wherein each r is an integer from 0 to 2 and optionally one or more carbon atoms of the phenyl ring are replaced by N, O or S, and Y⊖ is an equivalent amount of a monovalent, divalent or a trivalent basic acid anion;
• the process comprising the steps of
• A) catalytically hydrogenating a 1-substituted 2,4-dinitrobenzenes of the formula (IV) in the presence of a catalyst,
• wherein R1, n and R2 have the meanings given for formula (I) to form a reaction product;
• and
• B) separating the reaction product obtained after hydrogenation of 1-substituted 2,4-dinitrobenzenes of the formula (IV) from the catalyst and adding the reaction product to an aqueous solution of an acid H⊕Y⊖, wherein Y⊖ has the meaning given above.