Verfahren zur Herstellung von Distyrol-biphenylverbindungen

The present invention provides a process for the production of a compound of formula: in which X and Y, independently, are hydrogen, halogen, NO2, CF3, CN, C1-C4alkyl, C1-C4alkoxy, COO-C1-C4alkyl, CO-C1-C4alkyl, NH-(C1-C4alkyl), N(C1-C4alkyl)2, NH(C1-C4alkyl-OH), N(C1-C4alkyl-OH)2, COOH or SO3H or an ester or amide thereof, or COOM or SO3M in which M is Na, K, Ca, Mg, ammonium, mono-, di-, tri- or tetra-C1-C4alkylammonium, mono-, di- or tri-hydroxyalkylammonium or ammonium that is di- or tri-substituted with a mixture of C1-C4alkyl and C1-C4hydroxyalkyl groups; Z is hydrogen, C1-C4alkyl, C1-C4alkoxy, CF3, halogen (F, Cl, Br, I), SO3H or SO3M in which M has its previous significance; and n is 1 or 2; comprising A) diazotising one mole of an amine of formula: in which X and n have their previous significance, to produce a diazonium compound having the formula: in which X and n have their previous significance and G1 is a counter ion; and diazotising one mole of an amine of formula: in which Y and n have their previous significance, to produce a diazonium compound having the formula: in which Y, n and G1 have their previous significance; and B) reacting one mole of a divinyl compound having the formula: in which Z has its previous significance, with one mole of a compound having the formula (2) and with one mole of a compound having the formula (3), in the presence of an inorganic or organic palladium salt, or a mixture thereof, as catalyst-precursor. The compounds of formula (1) are useful as fluorescent whitening agents.