Abstract:
The invention relates to a novel process for producing the threo- and erythro-isomers of 1-phenyl-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol through the aldol-type alkaline condensation of benzaldehyde and nitroethanol, wherein the reaction mixture is acidified and, if desired, the isomers are separated from the obtained isomer mixture and the obtained isomers are transformed into each other through epimerization, characterized in that the condensation and, if desired, also the epimerization are carried out in the presence of catalytical amounts of an alkaline hydroxide.The process according to the invention makes it possible to produce 1-phenyl-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol, an intermediate of the antibiotic chloramphenicol, in high yields, and in an extremely advantageous way which can be carried out simply and economically even on an industrial scale.
Abstract:
Styrene is inhibited against polymerization during the distillation thereof by incorporating therein, in an amount sufficient to inhibit polymerization thereof, the dinitrophenol solution recovered from styrene still residues or tars resulting from the distillation of styrene in the presence of dinitrophenol. The recovered dinitrophenol solution is a more effective polymerization inhibitor than dinitrophenol per se.
Abstract:
A method for the stabilization of aqueous solutions of nitroform, which process comprises adding a stabilizing amount of urea or a water-soluble carbamic acid alkyl ester, or a mixture thereof to an aqueous solution of nitroform so as to form the respective reaction product thereof with nitroform. The invention also encompasses stabilized such solutions.
Abstract:
A method in the recovery of trinitromethane in the form of an aqueous solution from a solution containing nitric acid, water and trinitromethane, the solution containing a smaller quantity of nitric acid than that corresponding to the nitric acid content of an azeotropic mixture of nitric acid, water and trinitromethane, wherein it is ensured that the solution contains so much water that the distilled mixture of trinitromethane and water obtains a content of approximately 35 % or lower trinitromethane and a content of approximately 65 % or more water, and the remaining nitric acid solution obtains a composition of approximately 67 % nitric acid (HNO3) and approximately 33 % water (maximum azeotrope in the system nitric acid-water).
Abstract:
AN IMPROVED APPARATUS IS PROVIDED FOR PROCESSING THE EXPLOSIVE KNOWN AS HEXANITROSTILBENE (HNS) FROM A FORM KNOWN AS HNS-I INTO A FORM KNOWN AS HNS-II, TO PROVIDE A REFINED PRODUCT WITH A UNIQUE CRYSTAL FORM SO AS TO FACILITATE HANDLING OF THE MATERIAL. THE APPARATUS OF THE INVENTION USES AN IMPROVED EXTRACTION TECHNIQUE INVOLVING THE USE OF A SOLUTION OF ACETONITRILE IN WHICH HNS-I IS SOLUBLE AND XYLENE IN WHICH HNS IS INSOLUBEL FOR REFINING THE HNS-I INTO AN IMPROVED TYPE OF HNS-II.
Abstract:
THE PROBLEM OF TAR BUILD-UP IN THE PROCESS OF NITRATING PHENOL TO PRODUCE PREDOMINANTLY P-NITROPHENOL COMPRISING ADDING THE PHENOL TO A MIXED ACID SOLUTION HAVING DEFINED CONCENTRATIONS OF H2SO4, HNO3 AND HNO2 ACIDS, SEPARATING THE PRECIPITATED NITROPHENOL PRODUCT, RECONSTITUTING THE SPENT ACID SOLUTION AND RECYCLING IT TO THE NITRATION STEP OF THE PROCESS, IS EFFECTIVELY COUNTERACTED BY THE ADDITION OF A DEFINED MINOR PROPORTION OF A CARBOXYLIC ACID OF A DEFINED TYPE, SUCH AS ACETIC ACID, TO THE RECONSTITUTED MIXED ACID SOLUTION PRIOR TO RECYCLE THEREOF TO THE NITRATION STEP OF THE PROCESS.
Abstract:
1,219,738. Separation of nitroethane from other nitroalkanes. COMMERCIAL SOLVENTS CORP. 9 July, 1969 [26 Aug., 1968], No. 34621/69. Heading C2C. Nitroethane is separated from a mixture with one or more other nitroalkanes, including nitromethane and 2-nitropropane by (a) mixing the nitroalkane mixture with a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon having 7 or 8 carbon atoms; (b) distilling the mixture to form a distillate consisting of an upper layer and a lower layer comprising nitroethane, nitromethane and the hydrocarbon; (c) returning the upper layer to the distillation step; and (d) redistilling the lower layer until separation of the nitromethane and the hydrocarbon has been effected, thereby producing, as a distillation residue, purified nitroethane. The aliphatic hydrocarbon is preferably n-heptane, 2,2,4-trimethylpentane or 2,3,4-trimethylpentane.