PROCESS FOR PREPARING SALICYLAMIDE COMPOUNDS

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing with improved reaction kinetics and improved yields salicylamide compounds of the formula: where X is a benzene ring or a heterocyclic aromatic group, R₁ is a hydrogen atom or a substituent group which is -COC n H 2n-1 or -C n H 2n+1 where n is an integer of from 1 to 15, and R₂ is a hydrogen atom or a substituent group which is CN, NO₂, F, Cl, Br, I, CF₃, CCl₃, CBr₃, Cl₃, Cl₃, COC n H 2n+1 or C n H 2n-1 . The process involves reacting a phenyl salicylate, optionally substituted by the group R₁, with the amine NH₂-X-R₂ in the presence of a Lowry-Bronsted acid catalyst, and optionally an inert solvent. The catalyst may take the form of the hydrochloride salt of the reactant amine.

Description: aniline portion of the molecule is wholly replaced by a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic amine. There is another method for the preparation of salicylamides known as the salol reaction. Salol is a common name for phenyl salicylate and the salol process involves the formation of amides of salicylic acid by the heating of phenyl salicylate with an amine which may be an aniline or a heterocyclic amine. The earliest report relative to the salol process appears to be by M Schopff, Ber.25, 2740 (1892). A concise description of the salol process in the English language is contained in the Merck Index, eth Edition, page 1211 together with a listing of various other publications in which the salol reaction has been mentioned or discussed. According to the salol process, a given quantity of phenyl salicylate is heated with at least a stoichiometric corresponding quantity of aniline, usually in a high boiling aromatic diluent at temperature approaching and even exceeding 200"C for several hours. The resulting reaction product is thereafter allowed to crystallise, washed with ligroin and optionally recrystallised from ethanol. The aforementioned process has been described with reference to the preparation of both the parent salicylanilide as well as several salicylanilides where the substitution has been in the benzene ring of the aniline portion alone. According to a report by C F H Allen et al in "Organic Syntheses, Collective Volume III", 765 (1955), when the parent salicylanilide compound is synthesised the yield is only about 70% and moreover, the resulting product has a persistent pink colour which is not easily removed. While Allen, et al do report higher yields in the syntheses of other salicylamides, it is interesting to note that the only variation from the basic salol process PROCESS FOR PREPARING SALICYLAMIDE COMPOUNDS This invention relates to a new and improved process for the preparation of salicylamide compounds. Salicylamide compounds, especially those bearing alkyl or n-alkanoyl substituents in the benzene ring of the salicylic acid portion thereof, are described in US Patents Nos. 4 358 443 and 4 287 191 which disclose the use of such compounds as bactericides and as anti-dental plaque agents. The synthesis of a typical unsubstituted salicylamide is conventionally conducted by the reaction of salicylic acid and aniline in the presence of phosphorus trichloride as condensing agent. US Patents Nos. 2 763 683; 3 221 051; 3 221 052 and 3 231 611 describe various processes for the preparation and purification of salicylanilide. However, while the processes described therein are presumably quite effective for the preparation and purification of the parent salicylanilide, they are not practical for the preparation of salicylanilides substituted in the salicyl and/or aniline portions of the molecule or other salicylamide compounds wherein the synthesis of salicylanilide suggested therein is one involving the use of different anilines and heterocyclic amines. There is no suggestion made therein with respect to the usefulness or otherwise o the salol process in those cases where the phenyl salicylate reactant itself incorporates a substituent or substituents upon its salicylic acid benzene ring. Due consideration of mechanistic concepts enables one to conclude that substitution of the benzene ring of the salicylic acid portion of the phenyl salicylate molecule with an alkyl and especially an alkanoyl group would lead to considerably more complexity in the reaction pathway as a result of the complexation of the aniline or other amine with the alkyl or alkanoyl substituent group. The result would be lower yields of the desired product, increased side reactions and more difficulty in purifying the desired salicylamide product. It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved process for the preparation in high yield and with relatively high reaction rates of salicylamides of the formula: EMI3.1 Formula I where X is a benzene ring or a heterocylic aromatic group R1 is a hydrogen atom or a substituent group which is COCnH 2n+1 or ¯CnH2n+1 where n is an integer of from 1 to 15, and R2 is a hydrogen atom or a substituent group which is CN, NO2, F, Cl, Br, I, CF3 Cm13, CBr3, CI3, COCnH2n+l or CnH2n+1 According to the present invention there is provided a process for the preparation of salicylamides of Formula I, which process comprises reacting together one mole part of a phenyl salicylate ester optionally bearing an R1 substituent on the benzene ring of the salicylic acid portion thereof with about one to about two mole parts of an amine NH2-X-R2 and with about 0.01 to about 0.25, preferably about 0.05 to about 0.10, mole part of a Lowry-Bronsted acid catalyst at a temperature of above about 1500C, preferably between about 1500C and about 2250C, more preferably about 1800C, for about one half to about 4 hours. The invention is based on the discovery that the presence of the Bronsted acid catalyst in the reaction mixture accelerates the reaction rate and improves the yield significantly so that essentially complete (95-100%) conversion of the starting reactants occurs in about 2.5 to 3.5 hours. As a result there is made possible high efficiency in raw material use and relatively short reaction times. The high yield obtained is of advantage in subsequent isolation and/or purification of the product salicylamide. In terms of prior art, the effect of acid additives on amidation is controversial. For example in the amidation of unsubstituted phenyl salicylate, evidence is contradictory. Menger,F and Smith,J H, J Amer Chem Soc, 91 5346 (1969) indicate that n-butylamine hydrochloride retards the rate of aminolysis by 20%. Satchell,D P and Secemski,I, J Chem Soc, B 130 (1969) find acid gives no acceleration in acetonitrile but 64-88E increase in ether. Thus the effect of acids in the reaction scheme would be difficult to predict, see eg. Khan,M N, J Org Chem, 48 2046 (1983). Alternatively, US Patent No. 4 201 715 teaches the anilidisation of carboxylic acid esters using equimolar amounts of magnesium dianilide or aluminium trianilide. This method uses stoichiometric quantities of expensive reagents and results in waste disposal problems. In addition, these reagents may not be compatible with phenolic hydroxyl groups present in salicylic esters. The mole ratio of the amine to ester is preferably about 1 to 1 to 1.5 to 1 and more preferably about 1.2 to 1 to 1.3 to 1. The mole ratio of the amine te ester selected is based mainly on economics. The most expensive reactant is the salicylate ester and, accordingly, it is desired to use a sufficient excess of the amine reactant to react completely with the ester. When R1 is -C cnH2n+1' however, large excesses of the amine reactant are undesirable because of Schiff base side product formation by reaction of the amine with the carbonyl group of the side chain. The discovery of this side product formation makes it desirable to reflux the acidified reaction mixture in order to hydrolyse any Schiff base present and thereby recover additional desired product. The Lowry-Bronsted acid catalyst must be strong enough to be substantially ionised and may be from a variety of sources such as aliphatic or aromatic carboxylic acids or a mineral acid such as hydrogen halides, sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid. It is also particularly convenient to utilise the hydrochloride or other hydrogen halide salt of an organic amine as such a catalyst. In its most convenient aspect, the hydrochloride salt of the reactant amine NH2-X-R2is used. This is convenient not only for ease of handling but also because excess amine reactant is conveniently removed as the hydrochloride salt during the work-up and isolation of the product salicylamide. Thus another source of impurities is not introduced. When the Lowry-Bronsted acid catalyst takes the form of the hydrochloride salt of the reactant amine NH2-X-R2 the amount of the free reactant amine is reduced proportionately. After the reaction, the product salicylamide compound is recovered by any suitable method. According to one procedure described in our concurrently filed application No. ( ) the reaction mixture is dissolved in a polar organic solvent (eg. ethanol), acidified with a Lowry-Bronsted acid (eg. hydrochloric acid) and reflux. The product salicylamide compound is precipitated therefrom by the addition of water. The precipitated product salicylamide compound is thereafter recovered using any standard separation technique, eg. filtration. The polar organic solvent has a boiling point up to about 2000C and may be an alkanol, halogenated hydrocarbon or a mixture of these. The reflux step is done at a sufficiently high temperature and for a sufficient time to form the product. The temperature can vary widely depending on the solvent used, eg. methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol and the like. When ethanol is used, the mixture refluxes at about 80"C. It is possible to use temperatures between about 40"C and 1200C or even higher if the reflux were operated under pressure. The time of reflux may vary from a few minutes up to an hour or even longer but too lengthy a reflux could result in undesirable hydrolysis of the product. Preferably, reflux will be from about 15 to 30 minutes to minimise undesirable hydrolysis. The lower the temperature the longer the reflux heating time required while higher temperatures require shorter heating times compared to the fifteen minutes preferably used when the temperature is 800C. The product salicylamide compound may, if desired, be purified by recrystallisation from, for example, ethanol or an ethanol/water mixture. Any other suitable solvent in which the product salicylamide dissolves may be gainfully employed for the foregoing purpose. The reaction between the phenyl salicylate ester and the amine Ne2-X-R2 may be conducted in the presence of an inert solvent system such as a halogenated or unhalogenated aromatic compound or a polyethylene glycol of average molecular weight about 1000 to about 6000 or mixtures thereof all having a melting point of up to 1200C. Examples of heterocyclic amines of the formula WH2-X-R2 which may be used as a reactant in the process of this invention are 2-aminofuran, 2-aminothiazole, 2-aminobenzothiazole and 8-aminopurine. The group X may be comprised of other monocylic or fused ring polycylic or non-fused ring polycylic heterocyclic aromatic groups if desired. In a preferred aspect the process of the invention is applied to the preparation of salicylamides of the formula: EMI8.1 where R1 and R2 have the above meanings. The following Examples, which are submitted for illustrative purposes only, demonstrate the synthesis of a representative salicylamide compound, ie. 3 '-trifluoromethyl-5-octanoylsalicylanilide from 5 -octanoylphenylsalicylate and meta-trifluoromethyl aniline (l-amino-3-trifluoromethylbenzene) with remarkably high reaction rates and good effective yields. COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 5-octanoyl phenyl salicylate is purified by repeated recrystallisation from ethanol to a constant melting point, 73-74"C. No impurities therein are observed in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or infrared (irk) spectra. The purified ester (one mole) is placed in a flask with a mechanical stirrer, thermometer, condenser, rubber septum for withdrawing samples and a nitrogen purge or blanket. After meta-trifluoromethylaniline (1.2 moles) is introduced into the flask, the resulting reaction mixture is heated to 180 cm. The progress of the reaction is followed by periodically withdrawing samples which are analysed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The product yields are calculated from the relative amount of the reactant ester and the product salicylamide. In the above, uncatalysed reaction involving meta-trifluoromethylaniline and recystallised 5-octanoyl phenyl salicylate (as reactants) to produce 5-octanoyl3'-trifluoromethyl salicylanilide (OTS) the following reaction profile is observed. Time (Min.) % Yield OTS 5 12 30 27 60 36 90 48 125 61 160 65 200 69 235 71 Reaction times exceeding 235 min. do not result in significantly greater yields, since the yield levels off after 200 min. as shown above. In this Comparative Example, and in the succeeding Examples, 0 min. represents the time at which the reaction mixture reaches the temperature of 1800C. EXAMPLE 1 To the standard reaction mixture of the Comparative Example was added 10 mole per cent octanoic acid (based on the reactant ester). The progress of the reaction was as shown below in two separate runs: RUN 1 Time (Min.) % Yield (OTS) 0 17 28 57 64 76 121 89 176 100 RUN 2 Time (Min.) % Yield (OTS) 0 24 33 57 60 68 90 78 106 79 165 86 EXAMPLE 2 To the standard reaction mixture of the Comparative Example was added 10 mole per cent 5-octanoylsalicylic acid (based on the reactant ester). The progress of the reaction was as shown below: Time (Min.) % Yield (OTS) 0 18 40 45 70 63 120 74 150 81 180 83 235 85 EXAMPLE 3 The hydrochloride salt of meta-trifluoromethylaniline is prepared from an equal molar amount of concentrated hydrochloric acid and said aniline and it is used without further purification. An amount equal to 10 mole per cent (based on the reactant ester) was added to the reaction mixture of the Comparative Example. The progress of the reaction was as shown below: Time (Min.) % Yield (OTS) 0 20 32 45 60 60 92 68 121 73 152 81 180 100 EXAMPLE 4 Phenyl 5-octanoyl salicylate, 20 g, and meta-trifluoromethylaniline, 12 g, were placed in a 200 ml, 3-necked round bottom flask equipped with a stirrer. Octanoic acid, 0.85 g, corresponding to 10 mole per cent (based on the salicylate reactant), was added. A nitrogen sparge was introduced and the stirred reaction mixture heated to 1850C. The reaction was monitored via NYR analysis of samples of the reaction mixture with time. After 3 hours at 1850C, conversion of the salicylate was complete. Methanol, 60 ml, was added and the solution was heated to reflux. Next, 3.5 g of 38% hydrochloric acid ad 3.5 g of water was added. The acidified solution was reflux and stirred until a precipitate formed. The reaction mixture, after allowing to stand overnight, was filtered to yield 20 g of crude product. The crude product was purified by trituration with petroleum ether followed by recrystallisation from methanol containing 1 g of concentrated hydrochloric acid. The purified product, 3 1-trifluoromethyl-5-octanoylsalicylanilide, amounted to 17 g or 71% of theory.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A process for preparing a salicylamide compound of the formula: EMI13.1 where X is a benzene ring or a heterocylic aromatic group R1 is a hydrogen atom or a substituent group which is -COCnH2n+1 or -CnH2n+1 where n is an integer of from 1 to 15, and R2 is a hydrogen atom or a substituent group which is CN, NO2,F, Cl, Br, I, CF3,CCl3, CBr3, C13, COCnH2n+l or C H n 2n+1 which process comprises reacting together one mole part of a phenyl salicylate ester optionally bearing an R1 substituent on the benzene ring of the salicylic acid portion thereof with about one to about two mole parts of an amine NH2-X-R and with about 0.01 to about 0.25 mole part of a Lowry-Bronsted acid catalyst at a temperature of above about 1500C for about one half to about 4 hours. 2. A process as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the phenyl salicylate ester and the amine are reacted at a temperature in the range of about 1500C to about 225 C. 3. A process as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the temperature is about 1800C. 4. A process as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the Lowry-Bronsted acid catalyst is an aliphatic carboxylic acid, an aromatic carboxylic acid, a hydrogen halide, a hydrogen halide salt of an organic amine or a mixture thereof. 5. A process as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the Lowry-Bronsted acid catalyst is the hydrochloride salt of the amine NH2-X-R2. 6. A process as claimed in Claim 5 which comprises reacting together about one mole part of the optionally substituted phenyl salicylate ester with about 1.1 mole parts of the amine and with about 0.1 mole part of the hydrochloride salt of the amine. 7. A process as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the Lowry-Bronsted acid catalyst is octanoic acid, 5-octanoylsalicylic acid or meta-trifluoromethylaniline hydrochloride. 8. A process as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the quantity of the Lowry-Bronsted acid is about 0.1 mole part. 9. A process as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the phenyl salicylate ester, the amine and the Lowry-Bronsted acid catalyst are reacted in the presence of an organic solvent system consisting of a halogenated aromatic compound having a melting point of up to 1200C, an unhalogenated aromatic compound having a melting point of up to 1200C, a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of about 1000 to about 6000 or a mixture thereof. 10. A process as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9 wherein the amine NH2-X-R2 is aniline or an R2-substituted aniline.

Inventors: GUTTIEREZ, EDDIE NELSON, KOERMER, GERALD STEPHEN, PROROK, MARYFRANCES
Applicants: UNILEVER NV, UNILEVER PLC
Application year: 1984
Main classification: C07C102
IPC codes: C07C235, C07C67, A61K8, C07D473, C07C231, C07C233, C07D307, A61Q11