Methods of synthesizing 2-substituted-1,4-benzenediamine

1. A method for making 2-substituted-1,4-benzenediamine comprising:

(a) introducing an ether forming agent to a 4-nitro-2- (or 3-) haloalkyl substituted chlorobenzene resulting in the 4-nitro-2 (or 3-) substituted-chlorobenzene:

(b) introducing ammonia to a 4-nitro-2- (or 3-)substituted-chlorobenzene to obtain a 4-nitro-

2- (or 3-)substituted-aminobenzene:

(c) hydrogenating the 4-nitro-2- (or 3-) substituted-aminobenzene in the presence of an hydrogenation catalyst to form a 2-substituted-1,4-benzenediamine:

wherein X 1 of formula (IX) is selected from the group consisting of: a C1-C4 alkyl halogen,

 and mixtures thereof, wherein the halogen is F, Cl or Br;

wherein Y of YOH represents an alkyl moiety of C1-C3;

wherein the base is selected from suitable alkali alkoxides, alkali hydroxides, and mixtures thereof; and

wherein X of formulae (I)-(III)) is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, isopropoxy, butoxy;

(b) C1-C4 alkyl or branched alkyl with hydroxy substitution;

(c) —(CH2)yOCH3, wherein y is from 1-3;

(d) —(CH2)yOCH2CH3, wherein y is from 1-3;

(e) —(CH2)yOCH2CH2CH3, wherein y is from 1-3; and

(f)

 wherein Z is hydrogen, C1-3 alkyl, and mixtures thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the suitable alkali alkoxide is selected from the group consisting of sodium methoxide, lithium methoxide, potassium methoxide, sodium ethoxide, lithium ethoxide, potassium ethoxide, sodium propoxide, lithium propoxide, potassium propoxide and mixtures thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the suitable alkali hydroxide is sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises dissolving a 4-nitro-2- (or 3-) haloalkyl moiety substituted chlorobenzene in an alcohol selected from methanol, ethanol and propanol to form a solution and then mixing the solution with an alkali alkoxide, alkali hydroxide and mixtures thereof.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the suitable alkali alkoxide, alkali hydroxide and mixtures thereof is present in an amount from about 10% to about 30% by weight of the solution.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the ether forming agent is introduced to a 4-nitro-2-haloalkyl substituted chlorobenzene to result in the 4-nitro-2-substituted-chlorobenzene:

wherein X 1 of formula (IXa) is selected from a C1-C4 alkyl halogen,

 and mixtures thereof, wherein the halogen is F, Cl or Br;

wherein X of formula (Ia) is selected from the group consisting of: (a) —(CH2)yOCH3; y is from 1-3 (b) —(CH2)yOCH2CH3; y is from 1-3 (c) —(CH2)yOCH2CH2CH3; y is from 1-3

(d)

 Z is hydrogen or C1-C3 alkyl; and mixtures thereof;

wherein Y of YOH represents an alkyl moiety of C1-C3; and

wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of alkali alkoxides, alkali hydroxides, and mixtures thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the ether forming agent is introduced to a 4-nitro-3-haloalkyl substituted chlorobenzene to result in the 4-nitro-3-substituted-chlorobenzene:

wherein X1 of formula (IXb) is selected from a C1-C4 alkyl halogen,

 and mixtures thereof, wherein the halogen is F, Cl or Br;

wherein X of formula (Ib) is selected from the group consisting of: (a) —(CH2)yOCH3; y is from 1-3 (b) —(CH2)yOCH2CH3; y is from 1-3 (c) —(CH2)yOCH2CH2CH3; y is from 1-3

(d)

 Z is hydrogen, C1-C3alkyl, and mixtures thereof;

wherein Y of YOH represents an alkyl moiety of C1-C3; and wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of alkali alkoxides, alkali hydroxides, and mixtures thereof.