VERFAHREN ZUR HERSTELLUNG VON P-ANIMOPHENOLEN UND ALKYLSUBSTITUIERTE P-AMINOPHENOLE

A process for the production of unsubstituted and lower alkyl substituted p-aminophenols. A charge mixture is prepared comprising an unsubstituted or lower alkyl substituted nitrobenzene substrate, a platinum catalyst and a sulfur compound. The sulfur compound may be a divalent sulfur compound in which sulfur is bonded to two other moieties or a compound reducible to such sulfur compound under catalytic hydrogenation conditions. Hydrogen is introduced into the mixture while it is agitated at a temperature of 0 DEG -40 DEG C., thereby reducing the substrate to an unsubstituted or alkyl substituted phenylhydroxylamine. The hydroxylamine is thereafter heated to a temperature of at least 70 DEG C. and agitated at at least 70 DEG C. in the presence of a highly dissociated acid, thereby effecting rearrangement of the hydroxylamine to the corresponding p-aminophenol.