# Patent

## Title
Telescoping synthesis of 2-methoxymethyl-P-phenylenediamine

## Abstract

A telescoping process for the preparation of 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine, a cosmetically acceptable salt thereof, or mixture thereof. The process according to the present invention is a particularly cost effective process in that it avoids sophisticated chemical steps which requires special equipment or expensive catalysts and in that it comprises a recycling step of one of the starting materials, namely 2-hydroxymethylaniline.

## Background
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new telescoping synthesis of 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine according to formula (I) or salts thereof. This compound is known to the industry as low sensitizing major dye precursor used in oxidative hair dye compositions as replacement for traditional p-phenylenediamine or p-toluenediamine dye precursors




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
p-phenylenediamine derivatives are key precursors for oxidative hair dyeing. They are usually used to generate dark shades. p-phenylenediamine derivatives have been used for decades for hair dyeing. Among the p-phenylenediamine derivatives, a particularly favourable candidate, namely 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine has been identified. This dye precursor is particularly advantageous in that it is typically characterised by a lower sensitizing potential than traditional p-phenylenediamine or p-toluenediamine dye precursors.
In the past, the industry already published different synthetic routes to manufacture 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (I) or salts thereof.
For example, US2003/0041392A1 discloses a process for the preparation of 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (I) via a Smiles rearrangement in one of the intermediate steps.
Another possible synthetic route has been disclosed in WO2012044758A1. This synthetic route comprises a combination of steps starting with 2-chlorobenzylchloride and methanol to form the methoxymethyl intermediate. Nitration occurs in 4 position and activates the chloride as leaving group. Substitution of the chloride by an amino donor, preferably using benzylamine, requires a phase-transfer catalyst to obtain the aniline intermediate. Final hydrogenation leads to the desired 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine. One of the disadvantages of this method is that the overall yield may be relatively low and in some cases an insufficiency regarding the carbon balance can be observed.
An alternative synthetic route for preparing p-phenylenediamine by self-coupling of aniline has been disclosed in EP0013643A1. However, one of the disadvantages of this synthetic route is that some by-products such as amino biphenyl may be produced. These compounds are critical due to their toxicological profile and therefore this limits the use of this synthesis route.




Finally, a diazotation synthetic route has been disclosed in Rajaganesh, Ramanathan et al; Organic Letters, 14(3), 748-751; 2012. However, this synthetic route is not satisfactory in term of purity results and some by-products such as amino biphenyl may also be produced.




Therefore, there still exists the need to provide a new process for preparing 2-methoxymethyl-2-phenylenediamine (I) a cosmetically acceptable salt thereof, or mixture thereof which is particularly cost effective. This process should also be able to provide materials with a low impurity level. Furthermore, the process should also reduce the risk of non-controllable side reactions.
The inventors have surprisingly found that at least some of these needs may be met by a process according to the present invention comprising an economical recycling of the literature known key intermediate 2-hydroxymethylaniline (II).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a telescoping process for the preparation of 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (I), a cosmetically acceptable salt thereof, or mixture thereof comprising the steps of:

    
    
        a) synthesizing the intermediate 2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-{3-[2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]triaz-1-en-1-yl}aniline (IV) via diazotation using 2-hydroxymethylaniline (II) to obtain the intermediate of formula (III) followed by diazo coupling between the intermediate of formula (III) and 2-hydroxymethylaniline (II):
    
    






    
    
        b) synthesizing the intermediate 2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-{(E)-[2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]diazenyl}aniline of formula (V) via rearrangement of the intermediate 2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-{3-[2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]triaz-1-en-1-yl}aniline (IV) obtained in step a):
    
    






    
    
        c) synthesizing 2-hydroxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (VI) and 2-hydroxymethylaniline (II) via hydrogenation of the compound of formula (V):
    
    






    
    
        d) synthesizing 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (I) via acid catalysed etherification of the compound of formula (VI):
    
    






    
    
        e) optionally converting 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (I) into a cosmetically acceptable salt, preferably selected from chloride, sulfate, hydrogensulfate or malonate salt.
    
    




DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The sequence of steps, including all identified intermediates, involved in the telescoping synthesis and large scale process, is now described in detail. It is to be understood that when this development refers to a particular structure, all of the reasonable additional tautomeric structures are included. In the art tautomeric structures are frequently represented by one single structure and the invention follows this general practice.
It is to be understood that the steps described to prepare 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine according to formula (I) are performed in a sequential one-pot synthesis, with reagents added to a reactor one at a time and without work-up in between. The reaction steps require suitable solvents, as indicated below.
The present invention relates to a telescoping process for the preparation of 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine of formula (I), a cosmetically acceptable salt thereof, or mixture thereof comprising the steps a), b), c) and d) as described hereinafter.

    
    
        a) synthesizing the intermediate 2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-{3-[2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]triaz-1-en-1-yl}aniline (IV) via diazotation using 2-hydroxymethylaniline (II) to obtain the intermediate of formula (III) followed by diazo coupling between the intermediate of formula (III) and 2-hydroxymethylaniline (II):
    
    






This step is carried out in the presence of at least one nitrosation agent in order to convert 2-hydroxymethylaniline (II) into the intermediate of formula (III). The nitrosation agent(s) may be selected from the group consisting of sodium nitrite, potassium nitrite, dinitrogen pentoxide, nitrosylsulfuric acid and mixtures thereof.
This step is carried out in the presence of at least one mineral or organic acid. The mineral or organic acid may be selected from the group consisting of hydrogen chloride, trifluoroacetic acid, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, carbonic acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, phosphoric acid and mixtures thereof, Alternatively, the mineral or organic acid may be selected from the group consisting of hydrogen chloride, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, acetic acid and mixtures thereof. Alternatively, the mineral or organic acid may be acetic acid.
This step may be carried out in the presence of at least one radical scavenger. The radical scavenger may be selected from the group consisting of acrylonitrile, methacrylate, urea and mixtures thereof. Using at least one radical scavenger may be particularly advantageous in order to reduce the risk of formation of azotars which would negatively impact the overall yield of the compound (IV).
The solvent(s) used in this step may be selected from the group consisting of 1,2-dimethoxyethane, pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, 1,4-dioxane, diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, methyl-tetrahydrofuran, n-pentanol, n-butanol, acetic acid, propionic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, iso-pentanol, t-butanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, ethanol, methanol, glycols, hydrogen chloride, water and mixtures thereof, alternatively from the group consisting of n-butanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, ethanol, methanol, acetic acid, propionic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, hydrogen chloride, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid and mixtures thereof, alternatively from the group consisting of n-propanol, acetic acid, propionic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, hydrogen chloride, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid and mixtures thereof.

    
    
        b) synthesizing the intermediate 2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-{(E)-[2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]diazenyl}aniline (V) via rearrangement of the intermediate 2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-{3-[2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]triaz-1-en-1-yl}aniline (IV) obtained in step a):
    
    






This step is carried out in the presence of at least one mineral or organic acid. The mineral or organic acid may be selected from the group consisting of hydrogen chloride, trifluoroacetic acid, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, carbonic acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, phosphoric acid and mixtures thereof, Alternatively, the mineral or organic acid may be selected from the group consisting of hydrogen chloride, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, acetic acid and mixtures thereof. Alternatively, the mineral or organic acid may be acetic acid.
The pH of the mixture is increased by adding a base. The base may be sodium acetate.
The solvent(s) used in this step may be selected from the group consisting of 1,2-dimethoxyethane, pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, 1,4-dioxane, diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, methyl-tetrahydrofuran, n-pentanol, n-butanol, acetic acid, propionic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, iso-pentanol, t-butanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, ethanol, methanol, glycols, hydrogen chloride, water and mixtures thereof, alternatively from the group consisting of n-butanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, ethanol, methanol, acetic acid, propionic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, hydrogen chloride, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid and mixtures thereof, alternatively from the group consisting of n-propanol, acetic acid, propionic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, hydrogen chloride, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid and mixtures thereof.

    
    
        c) synthesizing 2-hydroxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (VI) and 2-hydroxymethylaniline (II) via hydrogenation of the compound of formula (V):
    
    






This step is carried out in the presence of a hydrogen source. The hydrogen source may be selected from hydrazine or H2 with a metal catalyst selected from the group consisting of Fe, Pd/C, Pd/(OH)2, Raney-Ni, Pt/C, PtO2 and mixtures thereof. Alternatively, the hydrogen source may be H2 with a Pd/C catalyst.
The solvent(s) used in this step may be selected from the group consisting of 1,2-dimethoxyethane, pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, methylacetate, ethylacetate, n-propylacetate, iso-propylacetate, n-butylacetate, methylpropionate, ethylpropionate, n-propylpropionate, iso-propylpropionate, n-butylpropionate, 1,4-dioxane, diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, methyl-tetrahydrofuran, n-butanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, ethanol, methanol, water and mixtures thereof, alternatively from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, ethylacetate, toluene and mixtures thereof.
After step c) of the reaction sequence, the reaction mixture comprises the cleavage fragments of the azo compound (V) after complete hydrogenation, i.e. 2-hydroxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (VI) which precipitates upon its formation or by triturating the reaction mixture with a solvent and the re-formed starting material of formula (II) which is observed to be soluble in the remaining mother liquor. The solvent may be selected from toluene and/or hexane.
The reaction mixture may be filtrated using simple filtration in order to isolate 2-hydroxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (VI). The yield can be increased by distillation of the filtrate and recycling of the starting material (II).

    
    
        d) synthesizing 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (I) via acid catalysed etherification of the compound of formula (VI):
    
    






The acid used in this step may be selected from the group consisting of hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, trifluoro acetic acid and mixtures thereof. Alternatively, the acid may be hydrogen chloride.
The methylating agent used in this step may be methanol.
The solvent used in this step may be selected from the group consisting of 1,2-dimethoxyethane, pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, 1,4-dioxane, diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, methyl-tetrahydrofuran, n-pentanol, iso-pentanol, t-butanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, ethanol, methanol, water, glycols and mixtures thereof. Alternatively, the solvent may be methanol.
In a further step, 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (I) can be converted into a cosmetically acceptable salt. The cosmetically acceptable salt may be any inorganic or organic cosmetically acceptable salt. The cosmetically acceptable salt may be selected from chloride, sulfate, hydrogensulfate or malonate salt. 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (I) may be converted into a cosmetically acceptable salt using a mineral or organic acid selected from the group consisting of hydrogen chloride, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, malic acid and mixtures thereof.
The process according to the present invention is a particularly cost effective process for preparing 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (I), a cosmetically acceptable salt thereof, or mixture thereof in that it avoids sophisticated chemical steps which requires special equipment or expensive catalysts and in that it comprises a recycling step of one of the starting materials, namely 2-hydroxymethylaniline (II). In addition, this process is efficient in carbon, i.e. no protecting groups are required, hence waste (e.g. from protecting groups that might normally be discarded) is minimized.
The starting material of the process according to the present invention is 2-hydroxymethylaniline (II). This compound is commercially available. However, this compound may be prepared according to the synthesis route disclosed hereinafter:
A) Preparation of 2-hydroxymethylaniline (II) starting from 2-nitro-benzyl alcohol (VII)
2-hydroxymethylaniline (II) may be prepared via hydrogenation of 2-nitro-benzyl alcohol (VII):




The hydrogenation of 2-nitro-benzyl alcohol (VII) may be carried out in the presence of a hydrogen source selected from hydrazine or H2 with a metal catalyst selected from the group consisting of Fe, Pd/C, Pd/(OH)2, Raney-Ni, Pt/C, PtO2 and mixtures thereof, alternatively in the presence of H2 with a Pd/C catalyst.
The solvent used for the hydrogenation of 2-nitro-benzyl alcohol (VII) may be selected from the group consisting of 1,2-dimethoxyethane, pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, methylacetate, ethylacetate, n-propylacetate, iso-propylacetate, n-butylacetate, methylpropionate, ethylpropionate, n-propylpropionate, iso-propylpropionate, n-butylpropionate, 1,4-dioxane, diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, methyl-tetrahydrofuran, n-butanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, ethanol, methanol, water and mixtures thereof, alternatively from the group consisting of methanol, ethylacetate, toluene and mixtures thereof.
Examples
The following are non-limiting examples of compositions of the present invention. The examples are given solely for the purpose of illustration and are not to be construed as limitations of the present invention, as many variations thereof are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which would be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art. All concentrations are listed as weight percent, unless otherwise specified.
A) Preparation of 2-hydroxymethylaniline (II) starting from 2-nitro-benzyl alcohol (VII)
A mixture of 300 mg catalyst Pd/C 10% containing 50% water suspended in 10 ml methanol has been added to a solution of 50.0 g 2-nitro-benzyl alcohol in 250 ml methanol. Hydrogenation was performed at 20° C. under a pressure of 2-3 bar abs. After complete conversion of the nitro group via hydrogenation, the solution was filtered, washed with methanol, concentrated under reduced pressure and yielded 48.1 g (96%) of crude material as a colorless solid.
B) Telescoping synthesis of 2-hydroxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (VI)
a) Synthesis of 2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-{3-[2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]triaz-1-en-1-yl}aniline (IV)
The following compositions have been prepared:
First Composition
















10 g
2-hydroxymethylaniline



35 mL
Hydrogen chloride (25%)



20 mL
water










Second Composition
















2.8 g
sodium nitrite



 20 ml
water










The second composition was added to the first composition over a time period of 3 min. The first and the second compositions as well as the acetic acid had a temperature of about 0° C.

The resulting mixture was stirred for further 30 min at a temperature of about 0° C. to 5° C.

Compound (IV) was characterized at this stage via sampling but was not isolated from the reaction mixture. The reaction continued subsequently with step b)

b) Synthesis of 2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-{(E)-[2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]-diazenyl}aniline (V)
20 g of sodium acetate was added to the resulting mixture of step a) at a temperature of about 0° C. to 5° C. over a time period of 15 min. The reaction mixture was then stirred further over a time period of about 120 hours at a temperature of about 17° C. to 24° C. The formed precipitation was filtrated and washed with 30 ml ice-cold water. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and yielded 6.24 g of crude material.
c) Synthesis of 2-hydroxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (VI) (and recovery of 2-hydroxymethyl aniline (II))
A mixture of 50 g crude 2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-{(E)-[2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]-diazenyl}-aniline (V) and 100 mg catalyst Pd/C 10% containing 50% water, suspended in 50 ml ethylacetate was hydrogenated at about 20° C. to 40° C. under a pressure of 2-3 bar abs. After completion of the reductive azo cleavage via hydrogenation, the solution was filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The obtained pasty solid was heated with 20 l toluene to 60° C. for 5 min and was cooled down to 0° C. over a period of 2 hours. The suspension was then stirred by vacuum filtration and washed with 10 ml cold toluene and dried in an oven, providing a total yield of 2.51 g 2-hydroxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (VI). 2-hydroxymethylaniline (II) was isolated from the mother liquor by distillation and re-cycled to be used again as starting material in step a).
C) Synthesis of 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (I)
40 ml concentrated sulphuric acid has been added to a solution of 18.8 g 2-hydroxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (VI) in 200 ml methanol. The solution was mixed for 18 hours at 50° C. The reaction was stopped by slowly adding 16.32 g of an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution (50%) at about 20-25° C. The methanol was evaporated under reduced pressure and 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (I) was extracted 3 times with 500 ml methylene chloride. The combined organic phases were concentrated under reduced pressure. The obtained oil was distillated and yielded 8.6 g-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (I) as a pale yellow solid.
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a concentration disclosed as “1%” is intended to mean “about 1%.”
Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

## Claims

1. A telescoping process for the preparation of 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (I), a cosmetically acceptable salt thereof, or mixture thereof comprising the steps of:
a) synthesizing the intermediate 2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-{3-[2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]triaz-1-en-1-yl}aniline (IV) via diazotation using 2-hydroxymethylaniline (II) to obtain the intermediate of formula (III) followed by diazo coupling between the intermediate of formula (III) and 2-hydroxymethylaniline (II):




b) synthesizing the intermediate 2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-{(E)-[2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]diazenyl}aniline of formula (V) via rearrangement of the intermediate 2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-{3-[2-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]triaz-1-en-1-yl}aniline (IV) obtained in step a):




c) synthesizing 2-hydroxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (VI) and 2-hydroxymethylaniline (II) via hydrogenation of the compound of formula (V):




d) synthesizing 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (I) via acid catalysed etherification of the compound of formula (VI):

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the process further comprises the step of converting 2-methoxymethyl-p-phenylenediamine (I) into a cosmetically acceptable salt.

3. The process according to claim 2, wherein the cosmetically acceptable salt is selected from chloride, sulfate, hydrogensulfate or malonate salt.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein step a) is carried out in the presence of at least one nitrosation agent.

5. The process according to claim 4, wherein the nitrosation agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium nitrite, potassium nitrite, dinitrogen pentoxide, nitrosylsulfuric acid and mixtures thereof.

6. The process according to claim 1, wherein step a) is carried out in the presence of at least one radical scavenger.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein step a) or b) is carried out in the presence of at least one mineral or organic acid.

8. The process according to claim 7, wherein the mineral or organic acid is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen chloride, trifluoroacetic acid, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, carbonic acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, phosphoric acid and mixtures thereof.

9. The process according to claim 7, wherein the mineral or organic acid is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen chloride, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, acetic acid and mixtures thereof.

10. The process according to claim 1, wherein the solvent used in step a) or b) is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-dimethoxyethane, pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, 1,4-dioxane, diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, methyl-tetrahydrofuran, n-pentanol, n-butanol, acetic acid, propionic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, iso-pentanol, t-butanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, ethanol, methanol, glycols, hydrogen chloride, water and mixtures thereof.

11. The process according to claim 1, wherein step c) carried out in the presence of a hydrogen source selected from hydrazine or H2 with a metal catalyst selected from the group consisting of Fe, Pd/C, Pd/(OH)2, Raney-Ni, Pt/C, PtO2 and mixtures thereof.

12. The process according to claim 1, wherein step c) is carried out in the presence of H2 with a Pd/C catalyst.

13. The process according to claim 1, wherein the solvent used in step c) is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-dimethoxyethane, pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, methylacetate, ethylacetate, n-propylacetate, iso-propylacetate, n-butylacetate, methylpropionate, ethylpropionate, n-propylpropionate, iso-propylpropionate, n-butylpropionate, 1,4-dioxane, diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, methyl-tetrahydrofuran, n-butanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, ethanol, methanol, water and mixtures thereof.

14. The process according to claim 1, wherein the solvent used in step c) is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, ethylacetate, toluene and mixtures thereof.

15. The process according to claim 1, wherein the acid used in step d) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, trifluoro acetic acid and mixtures thereof.

16. The process according to claim 1, wherein the solvent used in step d) is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-dimethoxyethane, pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, 1,4-dioxane, diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, methyl-tetrahydrofuran, n-pentanol, iso-pentanol, t-butanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, ethanol, methanol, water, glycols and mixtures thereof.

17. The process according to claim 1, wherein the methylating agent used in step d) is methanol.

18. The process according to claim 1, wherein 2-hydroxymethyl-aniline (II) is prepared via hydrogenation of 2-nitro-benzyl alcohol (VII):

19. The process according to claim 18, wherein the hydrogenation of 2-nitro-benzyl alcohol (VII) is carried out in the presence of a hydrogen source selected from hydrazine or H2 with a metal catalyst selected from the group consisting of Fe, Pd/C, Pd/(OH)2, Raney-Ni, Pt/C, PtO2 and mixtures thereof.

20. The process according to claim 18, wherein the solvent used for the hydrogenation of 2-nitro-benzyl alcohol (VII) is selected from the group consisting of 1,2-dimethoxyethane, pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, methylacetate, ethylacetate, n-propylacetate, iso-propylacetate, n-butylacetate, methylpropionate, ethylpropionate, n-propylpropionate, iso-propylpropionate, n-butylpropionate, 1,4-dioxane, diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, methyl-tetrahydrofuran, n-butanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, ethanol, methanol, water and mixtures thereof.