- #1
JeffEvarts
- 74
- 7
Lab production of 2,6-Xylidine appears to be difficult. Apparently either the production or reduction of 1,6-dimethyl nitrobenzene is "hard". Industrial production involves 50+ atmospheres of pressure, which falls far outside of my definition of "lab production".
I'm interested in taking a third approach: start with nitromesitylene.
Strategy 1: Somehow, magically, remove the methyl group that is para to the nitro group, then reduce the nitro group to an amine.
Strategy 2: Reverse the steps above: Reduce, then demethylate the aminomesitylene
My questions for all you "real" chemists out there:
-Jeff Evarts
I'm interested in taking a third approach: start with nitromesitylene.
Strategy 1: Somehow, magically, remove the methyl group that is para to the nitro group, then reduce the nitro group to an amine.
Strategy 2: Reverse the steps above: Reduce, then demethylate the aminomesitylene
My questions for all you "real" chemists out there:
- How do I remove the correct methyl group from nitromesitylene?
- What challenges do I face in reducing it to an amine? Reducing 4-nitrotoluene acid to 4-aminotoluene isn't too difficult, I hear. I assume the additional methyl groups are the cause of any difficulty?
-Jeff Evarts