PRODUCTION OF AROMATIC DICARBOXYLIC ACID DIANILIDE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the subject compound useful as a raw material for aramid polymer, etc., under mild condition in high yield by reacting an aromatic dicarboxylic acid with an aromatic amine in the presence of a rare earth metal catalyst. SOLUTION: (A) an aromatic dicarboxylic acid is made to react with (B) an aromatic amine at 100-300 deg.C in the presence of (C) a catalyst composed of a rare earth metal of the group IIIa of the periodic table and expressed by formula (M is a group IIIa metal of the periodic table) to obtain (D) an aromatic dicarboxylic acid dianilide. The component A is preferably isophthalic acid and the component B is preferably an aromatic diamine, especially m- phenylenediamine. The component C is preferably a rare earth metal trifluoromethanesulfonic acid salt such as scandium triflate and ytterbium triflate. The molar ratio of A:B is 1:(1-50) and the amount of the component C is 0.1-50wt.% based on the component A.