PREPARATION OF AROMATIC AMINE

PURPOSE:To obtain the titled compound efficiently, by reacting an aromatic halide with NH3 in the presence of water by the use of a copper hydroxide as a catalyst to give an aromatic amine, extracting and separating it, precipitating a copper compound from the remaining aqueous solution with an alkali metal hydroxide, separating it. CONSTITUTION:An aromatic halide such as o-dichlorobenzene, etc. is reacted with NH3 in the presence of water by the use of a catalyst consisting essentially of a copper hydroxide such as cupric hydroxide, etc. to give a reaction product, which is cooled. An aromatic amine, and other aromatic compounds are extracted with a solvent, separated, and the aromatic amine is separated from the extracted solution by distillation, etc. and it is prepared. While, an alkali metal hydroxide is added to the remaining aqueous solution after the solvent extraction operation, a copper compound consisting essentially of a copper oxide and/or a copper hydroxide is precipitated, the copper compound is separated and reused as the catalyst. EFFECT:A catalyst is reusable, and there is no problem of waste disposal.