Direct Reduction of 2,6-Dinitrobenzoic Acid to Aminonitrobenzoic Acid

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing 2-amino-6-nitrobenzoic acid are often multi-step and inefficient, with limited success in directly reducing 2,6-dinitrobenzoic acid to the desired compound, and existing approaches may result in unsatisfactory yields or additional side reactions.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the direct reduction of 2,6-dinitrobenzoic acid using sulfide, hydrosulfide, or polysulfide as reducing agents in a protic solvent mixture, such as water and alcohol, at reflux temperature, facilitating a single-step transformation with high yields of 2-amino-6-nitrobenzoic acid.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional multi-step methods are used to prepare 2-amino-6-nitrobenzoic acid, then the synthesis can be achieved through established routes, but the process complexity and time consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynthesis reliabilityVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conventional multi-step synthesis is segmented into a single direct reduction step by applying zinc dust and ammonium chloride to 2,6-dinitrobenzoic acid, eliminating intermediate isolation and purification steps while maintaining product reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The reagents zinc dust and ammonium chloride are prepared and positioned in advance in the reaction vessel, allowing the reduction reaction to proceed immediately upon addition of the substrate without requiring preliminary complex setup or catalyst activation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If direct reduction of 2,6-dinitrobenzoic acid is attempted using conventional methods, then the synthesis time is reduced, but the reaction yield remains unsatisfactory

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynthesis efficiencyVSAvoidreaction yield
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The reaction parameters are optimized by controlling the pH to remain between 2-4 throughout the reaction, maintaining the zinc dust in a reactive state and preventing side reactions, which directly improves the yield to satisfactory levels while keeping the process simple and fast

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Ammonium chloride acts as an intermediary substance that facilitates the reduction reaction by providing a controlled release of ammonia, which activates the zinc dust surface and enhances the reduction efficiency without requiring extreme conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional reduction methods are used, then the reaction conditions are simpler, but additional side reactions occur reducing the product purity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereaction simplicityVSAvoidproduct purity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The reaction conditions are locally optimized by maintaining specific pH ranges (2-4) and using excess zinc dust to ensure complete reduction of one nitro group while preventing over-reduction or side reactions, achieving high purity through localized control rather than complex global conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method achieves high yields of 2-amino-6-nitrobenzoic acid, suitable for large-scale synthesis and use in pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals, with yields of at least 85%, offering a cost-effective and efficient route compared to existing methods.

Implementation Method 1

reacting 2,6-dinitrobenzoic acid with a reducing agent under conditions sufficient to form 2-amino-6-nitrobenzoic acid, wherein the reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of sulfide, hydrosulfide and polysulfide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReduction: Reduction

Data Source

PatentEP2349980B1Process for preparing 2-amino-6-nitro-benzoic acid
Publication Date: 2018.09.26 REVVITY HEALTH SCIENCES INC
  • EP2349980B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP2349980B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP2349980B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods of producing aminonitrobenzoic acids are disclosed. A dinitrobenzoic acid may be reduced to an aminonitrobenzoic acid. In some specific embodiments, 2,6- dinitrobenzoic acid may be converted to 2-amino-6-nitrobenzoic acid. An end product may be used as an intermediate in the manufacture of various compounds including agricultural chemicals and pharmaceuticals.