PRODUCTION OF 3,4'-DIAMINODIPHENYL ETHER

PURPOSE:To obtain the titled compound which is a raw material for polymers having excellent strength and heat resistance in high yield under mild condition, by using a specific polar solvent in a reaction system in reacting 3,4'- dichlorodiphenyl ether with ammonia in the presence of a catalyst. CONSTITUTION:3,4'-Dichlorodiphenyl ether is catalytically reacted with ammonia in the presence of a copper catalyst in an aqueous solvent at 150-280 deg.C, preferably 160-230 deg.C using an amide based polar solvent to provide the aimed compound. N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone is preferred as the above-mentioned amide based polar solvent and the amount thereof used is 0.01-20pts.wt., preferably 0.05-5 pts.wt. based on 1pt.wt. 3,4'-dichlorodiphenyl ether which is a raw material. The amounts of the aforementioned raw material and ammonia used are preferably 2-50 number of ammonia mol. and 5-50pts.wt. water based on 1mol. raw material. The ammonia is conveniently an aqueous solution thereof in a high concentration.