A METHOD FOR PRODUCING A 2-PHENYLBENZOTRIAZOLE

Abstract: A method for producing a 2-phenylbenzotriazole useful as an ultraviolet absorber and represented by the general formula (III), wherein R₁ represents a hydrogen or chlorine atom, or a C₁-C₄ lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, carboxy or sulfonic acid group, R₂ represents a hydrogen or chlorine atom, or a C₁-C₄ lower alkyl or lower alkoxy group, and R₃, R₄ and R₅ each represent a hydrogen or chlorine atom, or a C₁-C₁₂ alkyl, phenyl, C₁-C₈ alkyl group-substituted phenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₈ alkyl, hydroxy, phenoxy or C₁-C₄ alkoxy group, which comprises reducing a 2-phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide repre­ sented by the general formula (II), wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄ and R₅ represent the same meanings as described above, with one or more members selected from the group consisting of phosphorus, hypophosphorous acid and its salts in the presence of an alkali and a napthoquinone in the absence or presence of a surface active agent, or comprises reducing an o-nitroazobenzene repre­ sented by the general formula (I),

Description: A METHOD FOR PRODUCING A 2-PHENYLBENZOTRIAZOLE The present invention relates to a method for producing a 2-phenylbenzotriazole. More particularly, it relates to a method for producing a 2-phenylbenzotriazole represented by the general formula (III), EMI1.1 wherein R1 represents a hydrogen or chlorine atom, or a C1-C4 lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, carboxy or sulfonic acid group, R2 represents a hydrogen or chlorine atom, or a C1-C4 lower alkyl or lower alkoxy group, and R3, R4 and R5 each represent a hydrogen or chlorine atom, or a -C12alkyl, phenyl, C1-C8 alkyl group-substituted phenyl, phenyl-C1-C8 alkyl, hydroxy, phenoxy or C1-C4 alkoxy group, which comprises reducing a 2-phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide represented by the general formula (II), EMI1.2 wherein R1, R2, R31 R4 and R5 represent the same meanings as described above, with one or more members selected from the group consisting of phosphorus, hypophosphorous acid and its salts in the presence of an alkali and a naphthoquinone, and a method for producing a 2-phenylbenzotriazole represented by the general formula (III), EMI2.1 wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 represent the same meanings as described above, which comprises reducing an o-nitroazobenzene represented by the general formula (I), EMI2.2 wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 represent the same meanings as described above, with one or more members selected from the group consisting of phosphorus, hypophosphorous acid and its salts in the presence of an alkali and a naphthoquinone to obtain a 2-phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide represented by the general formula (II), EMI3.1 wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 represent the same meanings as described above, and reducing the resulting compound (II) with one or more members selected from the group consisting of phosphorus, hypophosphorous acid and its salts in the presence of an alkali and a naphthoquinone. A 2-phenylbenzotriazole, the object of the present invention, represented by the general formula (III) is useful as an ultraviolet absorber, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing said triazole at low costs and in an industrially very advantageous manner. The conventionally well-known general method for synthesizing a 2-phenylbenzotriazole represented by the general formula (III) is reduction of the corresponding o-nitroazobenzene general formula (I)] or 2-phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide [general formula (11)] with a reducing agent or by electrolytic reduction. But, these well-known methods have their defects, being not a quite satisfactory method in industrial scales. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 5934/1962 discloses a method wherein o-nitroazobenzenes are reduced into the corresponding 2-phenylbenzotriazoles with zinc powder in an aqueous alkali solution, but this method which uses zinc has a problem such that: The reaction rate is so slow that reaction at high temperature needs to be continued for a long time, and besides that there easily occur side reactions such as reductive cleavage of the azo group, and dehalogenation when the desired product is a halogen atom-containing compound, and the like. It was therefore difficult to obtain the desired product of high purity in high yields. In addition, this method which uses zinc causes environmental problems such as generation of zinccontaining sludge and waste water, so that it was a method having many industrial problems. Also, the above patent publication suggests reduction with alkali sulfide. But, the present inventors' actual investigation showed that by-products were produced in large quantities to fail to obtain good results in not only reaction yield but also quality. This reduction method w:1i alkali sulfide is therefore not practical. Also, Chemical Abstracts, Vol. 24, pp. 2060 (published in 1930) reports electrolytic reduction of o-nitroazobenzenes with copper electrodes in an aqueous dilute sodium hydroxide solution. This method, however, has problems that not only a special apparatus of electrolytic plants is required, but also the yield is low (50 to 70%), so that it is not a practical method. A method for synthesizing 2-phenylbenzotriazoles by hydrogenation of o-nitroazobenzenes is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Kokai (Laid-Open) Nos. 138676/1976, 138677/1976, 138678/1976 and 138679/1976. This method, however, not only requires a special apparatus of autoclaves, but also gives as low a yield as about 80% at best, so that they are not a satisfacotory method. Japanese Patent Application Kokai (Laid-Open) No. 88072/1975 discloses a reduction method with hydrazine. But, the present inventors' actual investigation showed that it was difficult to obtain the desired product in high purity probably because side reactions easily occur during the reaction. Also, the well-known methods described above had a serious problem as follows in addition to the foregoing problems: When water is contained in the reaction system, the desired reaction, particularly reduction of N-oxides of the general formula (II) into triazoles of the general formula (III) is markedly inhibited to cause an extreme increase in the amount of impurities. Because of this, the well-known methods employ complicated techniques which are industrially undesirable as follows: o-Nitroazobenzenes of the general formula (I) commonly available as a wet cake is dried expressly before use; and when the o-nitroazobenzene wet cake is used as such, the reaction is first allowed to proceed to the stage of the corresponding N-oxide, the N-oxide is once isolated and dried or water in the reaction system is removed by azeotropic dehydration or the like, and then the subsequent reaction is advanced. This was one of the problems inherent to the well-known methods. The present inventors extensively studied to solve the defects of these conventionally well-known methods, and as a result, found a very advantageous method which provides the desired product in high yield and in high purity and besides is easy to carry out industrially. The present inventors thus completed the present invention. According to the present invention, there is provided a method for producing a 2-phenylbenzotriazole represented by the general formula (III), EMI6.1 wherein R1 R2 R3, R4 and R5 represent the same meanings as described above, which comprises two steps: : (1) First step for obtaining a 2-phenylbenzotriazol N-oxide represented by the general formula (II), EMI7.1 wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 represent the same meanings as described above, by reducing an o-nitroazobenzene represented by the general formula (I), EMI7.2 wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 represent the same meanings as described above, with one or more members selected from the group consisting of phosphorus, hypophosphorous acid and its salts in the presence of an alkali and a naphthoquinone, and (2) Second step for reducing the resulting 2phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide of the general formula (II), which may or may not be separated from the reaction system after completion of the first step, with one or more members selected from the group consisting of phosphorus, hypophosphorous acid and its salts in the presence of an alkali and a naphthoquinone. The present invention will be illustrated in detail hereinafter. An o-nitroazobenzene of the general formula (I), a starting material of the present invention, can easily be produced by diazotizing an o-nitroaniline, generally, in an aqueous solvent to obtain the diazo compound which is then coupled with a phenol The resulting o-nitroazobenzene is obtained as a wet cake by filtration, etc. in the present invention, the wet cake can be used as such if its water content is 45% or less, but it may be dried before use. Specific examples of o-nitroazobenzenes include for example the following: 2-Nitro-4-chloro-2'-hydroxy-3'-tert-butyl-5' methyla zobenzene 2-Nitro-2'-hydroxy-5'-methylazobenzene 2-Nitro-2'-hydroxy-5'-tert-octylazobenzene 2-Nitro-4-chloro-2'-hydroxy-3',5'-di-tert butylazobenzene 2-Nitro-2'-hydroxy-3',5'-di-tert-amylazobenzene 2-Nitro-2 -hydroxy-3 , 5' -di-tert-butylazobenzene 2-Nitro-2 '-hydroxy-3'tertThutyl-5'-methylazobenzene 2-Nitro-2',4'-dihydroxyazobenzene 2-Nitro-4-chloro-2',4'-dihydroxyazobenzene 2-Nitro-2'-hydroxy-4'-methoxyazobenzene 2-Nitro-4-chloro-2'-hydroxy-3',5'-di-tert-amylazobenzene 2-Nitro-2'-hydroxy-5'-tert-amylazobenzene 2-Nitro-4-chloro-2'--hidroxy-5'-tert-amylazobenzene 2-Nitro-2'-hydroxy-3',5'-di-(&alpha;,&alpha; ;-dimethylbenzyl)- azobenzene 2-Nitro-4-chloro-2'-hydroxy-3',5'-di(&alpha;,&alpha;-dimethyl- benzyl)azobenzene 2-Nitro-2'-hydroxy-3'-a-methylbenzyl-5'-methylazobenzene 2-Nitro-4-chloro-2'-hydroxy-3'-&alpha;-methylbenzyl- 5'-methylazobenze 2-Nitro-2 '-hydroxy-5' -n-dodecylazobenzene 2-Nitro-4-chloro-2'-hydroxy-5'-n-dodecylazobenzene 2-Nitro-2'-hydroxy-3',5'-di-tert-octylazobenzene 2-Nitro-4-chloro-2'-hydroxy-3',5'-di-tertoctylazobenzene 2-Nitro-4-chloro-2'-hydroxy-5'-tert-octylazobenzene A 2-phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide represented by the general formula (II) is the corresponding N-oxide of the compound of the general formula (I) given above. The organic solvent used in the present invention is not particularly limited, and it includes for example alcohols (e.g. methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, butanol), cellosolves (e.g. ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether), polar solvents (e.g. dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, alkylsulfone, acetone, acetonitrile), aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g. benzene, toluene, xylene), aliphatic hydrocarbons (e.g. n-hexane, n-heptane, ligroin) and the like. A preferred amount of the solvent used is 3 to 8 times by weight based on an o- nitroazobenzene of the general formula (I) or a 2-phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide of the general formula (II). Of course, amounts more than that can also be used without hindrance to the reaction. A surface active agent may be used in the present invention, and its amount is not particularly limited. Generally, the amount is 0 to 10 wt.%, preferably O to 5 wt.% based on an o-nitroazobenzene of the general formula (I) or a 2-phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide of the general formula (IT}. The kind of the surface active agent is not particularly limited, and for example, the following are given: Turkey red oil, alkylarylsulfonates, higher alcohol sulfuric acid esters, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene sulfate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene acyl esters and polyhydric alcohols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, hellene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, glyrin, pentaglycerol, etc. As the alkali used in the present invention, the hydroxide, carbonate, hydrogencarbonate, etc. of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals are used. For example, even commonly used alkalis such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, etc. may be used. The amount of the alkali used is preferably 2 to 6 moles based on 1 mole of an o-nitroazobenzene of the general formula (I) or a 2-phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide of the general formula (II). Amounts lower than this tend to lower the reaction rate. As a naphthoquinone used in the present invention, there are given for example 1,2-naphthoquinone, 1,4naphthoquinone, 2,6-naphthoquinone, 2,3-dichloro-1,4naphthoquinone and naphthoquinones substituted with an alkyl group at the nucleus. The amount of a naphthoquinone used at the step to obtain a 2-phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide of the general formula (II) (first step) is 0.002 to 0.08 mole, preferably 0.008 to 0.06 mole based on 1 mole of an o-nitroazobenzene of the general formula (I). Said amount used at the step to obtain the desired product, a 2-phenylbenzotriazole, (second step) is 0.01 to 0.1 mole, preferably 0.02 to 0.08 mole based on 1 mole of the Noxide of the general formula (it), and it is added additionally to the reaction system when the reaction is continued without isolating said N-oxide after the first step. In the present invention, phosphorus or hypophosphorous acid is used as a reducing agent. The form of phosphorus used includes for example liquid phosphorus, yellow phosphorus, red phosphorus, brown phosphorus, black phosphorus, etc. Of these, yellow phosphorus and red phosphorus are preferred. The amount of phosphorus used at the step to obtain a 2-phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide of the general formula (II) (first step) is generally 0.2 to 2 moles based on 1 mole of an o-nitroazobenzene of the general formula (I). Said amount used at the step to obtain the desired product, a 2-phenylbenzotriazole of the general formula (III), (second step) is generally 0.2 to 2 moles based on 1 mole of the N-oxide of the general formula (it), and it is added additionally to the reaction system when the reaction is continued without isolating said N-oxide after the first step. When hypophospHorous acid is used, the form of the acid includes for example a free acid and the salts of the acid with an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal such as hypophosphorous acid, sodium hypophosphite, potassium hypophosphite, etc. The amount of the acid used at The step to obtain a 2-phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide of the general formula (II) (first step) is generally 0.5 to 4 moles based on 1 mole of an azobenzene of the general formula (I). Said amount used at the step to obtain the desired product, a 2-phenylbenzotriazole of the general formula (III), (second step) is 0.5 to 4 moles based on 1 mole of the N-oxide of the general formula (II), and it is added cidditionally to the reaction system when the reaction is continued without isolating said N-oxide after the first step The reaction temperature used in the present invention is generally selected from a relatively mild temperature range of 200 to 500C at the first step to obtain an N-oxide of the general formula (II). While said temperature is generally 60 to 1000C at the second step to obtain the desired product of the present invention, a 2-phenylbenzotriazole. As described above, the method of the present invention comprises the first and second steps. The reaction of the second step may be carried out after isolating an N-oxide of the general formula (II) which is the product of the first step, or without isolating the N-oxide. In the latter case, said reaction is carried out after additionally adding the phosphorus compound and naphthoquinone. Next, the present invention will be illustrated with reference to the following examples, but it is not limited to these examples only. Example 1 19 Grams of 2-nitro-4-chloro-2'-hydroxy-3'tert-butyl-5'-methylazobenzene and 7.4 g of sodium hydroxide were added to 100 g of a 95% aqueous isopropyl alcohol solution, and after raising the temperature to 600 to 65"C, 0.3 g of polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (trade name, Emulgen 106; produced by Kao Atlas Co.). After gradually cooling the reaction mixture to 300C, 0.4 g of 2,3-dichloro-1,4-naphthoquinone was added and then 0.6 g of yellow phosphorus was further added in portions over about 1 hour, while properly cooling the reaction system in a water bath since addition of phosphorus was accompanied by generation of heat. The reaction system was stirred at 300 to 350C for about 1 hour. After confirming complete disappearance of the red color of the azobenzene, the reaction system was neutralized to a pH of 7 to 8 with aqueous sulforic acid. The deposited yellow crystal was angorated by filtration, washed with 200 ml of water and then with a little isopropyl alcohol and dried to obtain 17.6 g of 3-(2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-3-methylphenyl)-3chlorobenztotriazol-N-oxide. Yield, 97%. Melting point, 160 -163 C. Example 2 Procedure was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 21.7 g of a 20% aqueous sodium hypophosphite solution was used in place of yellow phosphorus, to obtain 17.5 g of 2-(2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl5-methylphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazol-N-oxide. Yield, 96.4%. Melting point, 161 - 163 C. Example 3 A mixture comprising 17.6 g of 2-(2-hydroxy3-tert-butyl-5-methylphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazol-N-oxide, 100 g of isopropyl alcohol, 5.2 g of sodium hydroxide and 0.3 g of ethylene glycol was adjusted to a temperature of 30 to 35 C. After adding 0.5 g of 2,3-dichloro-1,4naphthoquinone to this mixture, 0.6 g of yellow phosphorus was further added thereto over 30 minutes, and then the temperature was raised to 75 to 80 C over about 1 hour. On continuing reaction with stirring at 75 to 80 C for 2 hours, the N-oxide disappeared and reduction reached completion. Thereafter, 100 ml of water was added to the reaction mixture, and the mixture was neutralized to a pH of 7 to 8 with sulfuric acid. The deposited yellowish white crystal was separated by filtration, washed with water and then with a little isopropyl alcohol and dried to obtain 19.9 g of 2-(2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-3-methylphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole. Yield, 94.9%. Melting point, 138 - 140 C. Example 4 Procedure was carried out in the same manner as in Example 3 except that 4.2 g of sodium hypophosphite was used in place of yellow phosphorus, to obtain 16.0 g of 2-(2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-5-methylphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole. Yield, 95.5%. Melting point, 138 140 C. Example 5 50 Grams of 2-nitro-2'-hydroxy-5'-methylazobenzene was dissolved by heating in a solution comprising 200 ml of wate and 29 g of sodium hydroxide. To the resulting solution were added 1 q of polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (trade name, Emulgen 106; produced by Kao Atlas Co.) and 2 9 of 2,3-dichloro-1,4-naphthoquinone, and then 0.6 g of yellow phosphorus was further added at 30 to 35 C over 30 ainutes. On continuing reaction with stirring at 30 to 35 C for further I hour, the red color of the azobenzene disappeared and reduction reached completion. The reaction mixture was neutralized to a PB of 7 to S with sulfuric acid. and the deposited yellow crystal was separated by filtration, thoroughly washed with water and dried to obtain 46 g of 2-(2hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)benzotriazol-N-oxide. Yield, 98.1%. Melting point, 1380 - 14O0C. Example 6 Procedure was carried out in the same manner as in Example 4 except that 46 g of 2-(2-hydroxy-5methylphenyl)benzotriazol-N-oxide was used in place of 2- (2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-5-methylphenyl) - 5-chlorobenzo- triazol-N-oxide, to obtain 41 g of 2-(2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)benzotriazole as a pale yellow crystal. Yield, 95.58. Melting point, 1280 - 13O0C. Comparative Example I Procedure was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 9.9 g of a 31% aqueous sodium hydrosulfide solution was used in place of yellow phosphorus, to obtain 17 g of 2-(2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl 5-mefhylphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazol-N-oxide. Purity, 88.5%. Yield, 83.2% Comparative example 2 Procedure was carried out in the same manner as in Example 3 except that 9.9 g of a 31% aqueous sodium hydrosulfide solution was used in place of yellow phosphorus, to obtain 16.3 g of 2-(2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl- 5-methylphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole. Purity, 79.5%. Yield, 77.5%. The crystal obtained was colored reddish brown, and the color could not be decolored even by purification by recrystallization. Example 7 19 Grams of 2-nitro-4-chloro-2' -hydroxy-3 '- tert-butyl-5'-methylazobenzene and 7.8 g of sodium hydroxide were added to 100 g of isopropyl alcohol, and the temper more was raised to 600C with stirring. After adding 0.9 g of ethylene glycol, the reaction mixture was gradually cooled to 300C, and 0.6 g of 2,3-dichloro-1,4-naphthoquinone was added. Thereafter, 0.6 g of red phosphorus was further added in portions over about 1 hour, while properly cooling the reaction mixture in a water bath since addition of phosphorus was accompanied by generation of heat. On carrying out stirring at 300 to 350C for more than 1 hour, the azobenzene disappeared, and 2-(2hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-5-methylphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazol N-oxide was formed. In order to complete the reaction, 0.3 g of ethylene glycol, 5.5 g of sodium hydroxide and 0.6 g of 2,3-dichloro-1,4-naphthoquinone were added, 0.6 g of red phosphorus was then added at 300 to 350C over 30 minutes, and the temperature was raised to 750C over about 1 hour. Subsequently, on continuing stirring at 750 to 800C for 2 hours, the N-oxide disappeared, and reduction reached completion. To the reaction mixture was added 100 ml of water, and the mixture was neutralized to a pH of 7 to 8 with sulfuric acid. The deposited yellowish white crystal was separated by filtration, washed with 200 ml of water and then with a little isopropyl alcohol and dried to obtain 16.3 g of 2-(2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-5 methylphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole. Yield, 94.5%. Purity, 99.9%. Melting point, 1370 - 140 C. Comparative example 3 Procedure was carried out in the same manner as in Example 7 except that 9.9 g-of a 31% aqueous sodium hydrosulfide solution was used in place of red phosphorus, to obtain 14 g of 2-(2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-5-methyl phenyl) -5-chlorobenzotriazole. Purity, 78.5%. Yield, 64.5%. The crystal obtained was colored reddish brown, and the color could not be decolored even by purification by recrystallization, etc. Example 8 Procedure was carried out in the same manner as in Example 7 except that 2.7 g of hypophosphorous acid liquefied by heating to 300 to 40 C was used in place of red phosphorus, to obtain 16.3 g of 2-(2-hydroxy-3-tert butyl-5-methylphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole as a yellowish white crystal. Yield, 94.5%. Melting point, 1370 - 1400C-. Example 9 Procedure was carried out in the same manner as in Example 7 except that polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (trade name, Emulgen 106; a nonionic surface active agent produced by Kao Atlas Co.) was used in place of ethylene glycol, to obtain 16.1 g of 2-(2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-5methylphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole. Yield, 93.58. Melting point, 1370 - 1400C. Example 10 Procedure was carried out in the same manner as in Example 7 except that ethylene glycol was not used, to obtain 15.9 g of 2-(2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-5-methyl pbet1yl) -5-chlorobenzotriazole. Yield, 92%. Melting point, 137u - 141"C. Example 11 A mixture comprising 50 g of 2-nitro-4-chloro 2 '-hydroxy-3' , 5'-di-tert-butylazobenzene, 205 g of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, 18 g of sodium hydroxide and 2.5 g of ethylene glycol was stirred for 30 minutes, 1.5 g of 2,3-dichloro-1,4-naphthoquinone was then added, and the temperature of the resulting mixture was adjusted to 300 to 350C. Thereafter, 1.4 g of red phosphorus was added at 300 to 350C over 30 minutes, while properly cooling the reaction mixture in a water bath since addition of phosphorus was accompanied by generation of heat. After completion of the addition, reaction was carried out at 350 to 400C for 1 hour. After confirming disappearance of the azobenzene, 0.6 g of ethylene glycol, 12.3 g of sodium hydroxide and 1.5 g of 2,3-dichloro-1,4-naphthoquinone were added, 1.4 g of red phosphorus was then further added over 30 minutes, and subsequently the -- - temperature was gradually raised to 850C over 1 hour. On carrying out reaction at 850 to 900C for 2 hours, reduction reached completion. Thereafter, 250 ml of water was added to the reaction mixture, and the mixture was neutralized to a pH of 7 to 8 with sulfuric acid. The deposited yellow crystal was separated by filtration, washed with 40Q ml of water and dried to obtain 42.2 g of 2- (2-hydroxy-3, 5-di-tert-butylphenyl) -5-chlorobenzotriazole. Yield, 92%. Melting point, 1530 - 1550C. Example 12 Procedure was carried out in the same manner as in Example 11 except that 10.2 g of sodium hypophosphite was used in place of red phosphorus, to obtain 42 g of 2- (2-hydroxy-3, 5-di-tert-butylphenyl) -5-chlorobenzo- triazole. Yield, 91.6%. Melting point, 153e - 1550C. Comparative example 4 19 Grams of 2-nitro-4-chloro-2'-hydroxy-3' tert-butyl-5'-methylazobenzene and 8.7 g of sodium hydroxide were added to 100 g of methyl cellosolve, and after stirring at room temperature for 30 minutes, 13.1 g of zinc powder was added. After addition, stirring was continued for 1 hour, the temperature was raised to 600C, and reaction was carried out for further 5 hours with stirring. After confirming disappearance of the raw material and the intermediate (N-oxide), 300 g of toluene was added to the reaction mixture, followed by filtration. The toluene layer was washed with aqueous hydrochloric acid, and toluene was removed by evaporation to obtain 14.8 g of 2- (2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-5-methylphenyl) -5- chlorobenzotriazole. Purity, 88%. Yield, 75.5%. Comparative example 5 27.8 Grams of 2-nitro-4-chloro-2'-hydroxy-3' trt-butyl-5'-methylazobenzene and 0.9 g of potassium hydroxide were added to 60 g of diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, and the resulting mixture was heated to 700C with stirring. Thereafter, 2.6 g of 80% hydrazine hydrate was added dropwise at 700C over 1 hour, and the temperature was raised to 900C, followed by stirring at the same temperature for 2 hours. Thereafter, the temperature was further raised to 1350C, and 2.6 g of 80% hydrazine hydrate was added dropwise at the same temperature over 2 hours while distilling water out of the reaction system. Stirring was continued at 1350C for further 2 hours, and after confirming disappearance of the raw material and the intermediate product (N-oxide), the reaction mixture was cooled to 900C. Subsequently, 44 g of 2.7% hydrochloric acid was added, and the reaction mixture was discharged into 270 ml of 800C water. The deposited yellowish brown crystal was separated by filtration, washed with water and dried to obtain 25.5 g of 2-(2-hydroxy-3-tert butyl-5-methylphenyl) -5-chlorobenzotriazole. Purity, 69%. Yield, 69.6%. Example 13 Procedure was carried out in the same manner as in Example 7 except that 25.3 g of a 2-nitro-4-chloro2'-hydroxy-3'-tert-butyl-5'-methylazobenzene wet cake containing 25 wit 8 of water was used in place of the dried product of the compound, to obtain 16 g of 2-(2-hydroxy- 3-tert-butyl-5-methylphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole. Yield, 92.7%. Melting point, 137 - 141 C. Comparative example 6 Procedure was carried out in the same manner as in Example 13 except that 3.6 g of 90% paraformaldehyde was used in place of red phosphorus, to obtain 14.4 g of 2- (2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-5-methylphenyl) -5-chloro- benzotriazole. Purity, 94%. Yield, 78.5%.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A method for producing a 2-phenylbenzotriazole represented by the general formula (III), EMI23.1 wherein R1 represents a hydrogen or chlorine atom, or a C1 t4 lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, carboxy or sulfonic acid group, R2 represents a hydrogen or chlorine atom, or a C1-C4 lower alkyl or lower alkoxy group, and R3, R4 and R5 each represent a hydrogen or chlorine atom, or a C1-C12 alkyl, phenyl, C1-C8 alkyl group-substituted phenyl, phenyl-C1-C8 alkyl, hydroxy, phenoxy or C1-C4 alkoxy group, which comprises reducing a 2-phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide represented by the general formula (II), EMI23.2 wherein R1, R2, R31 R4 and R5 represent the same meanings as described above, with one or more members selected from the group consisting of phosphorus, hypophosphorous acid and its salts in the presence of an alkali and a naphthoquinone in the absence or presence of a surface active agent. 2. A method as described in Claim 1, wherein the reaction temperature is in a range of 500C to 2000C. 3. A method as described in Claim 2, wherein the reaction temperature is in a range of 600C to 1000C. 4. A method as described in Claim 1, wherein the amount of the surface active agent is 0 to 10 wt.% based on the 2-phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide. 5. A method as described in Claim 1, wherein the alkali is one or more members selected from the hydroxide, carbonate and hydrogencarbonate of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals. 6. A method as described in Claim 1, wherein the amount of the alkali is 2 to 6 moles based on 1 mole of the 2-phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide. 7. A method as described in Claim 1, wherein the naphthoquinone is one or more members selected from 1,2naphthoquinone, 1, 4-naphthoquinone, 2,6-naphthoquinone, 2,3 dichloro-l , 4-naphthoquinone and naphthoquinones substituted with an alkyl group at the nucleus. 8. A method as described in Claim 1, wherein the amount of the naphthoquinone is 0.01 to 0.08 mole based on I mole of the 2-phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide. 9. A method as described in Claim 1, wherein the amount of the phosphorus is 0.2 to 2 moles based on 1 mole of the 2-phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide. 10. A method as described in Claim 1, wherein the amount of hypophosphorous acid or its salt is 0.5 to 4 moles based on 1 mole of 2-phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide. 11. A method for producing a 2-phenylbenzotriazole represented by the general formula (III), EMI25.1 wherein R1 represents a hydrogen or chlorine atom, or a C1-C4 lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, carboxy or sulfonic acid group, R2 represents a hydrogen or chlorine atom, or a C1-C4 lower alkyl or lower alkoxy group, and R3, R4 and R5 each represent a hydrogen or chlorine atom, or a Cl-Cl2 alkyl, phenyl, C1-C8 alkyl group-substituted phenyl, phenyl-Cl-C8 alkyl, hydroxy, phenoxy or C1-C4 alkoxy group, which comprises reducing an o-nitroazobenzene represented by the general formula (I), EMI25.2 wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 represent the same meanings as described above, with one or more members selected from the group consisting of phosphorus, hypophosphorous acid and its salts in the presence of an alkali and a naphthoquinone in the absence or preesence of a surface active agent to obtain a 2-phenyl Penzotriazol-N-oxide represented by the general formula (II), EMI26.1 wherein R1, R2 R3, R4 and R5 represent the same meanings as described above, and reducing the resulting compound (II) with one or more members selected from the group consisting of phosphorus, hypophosphorous acid and its salts in the presence of an alkali and a naphthoquinone in the absence or presence of a surface active agent. 12 A method as described in Claim 11, wherein the reaction temperature is in a range of 20"C to 500C in the first step and is in a range of 600C to 1000C in the second step. 13. A method as described in Claim 11, wherein the amount of the surface active agent is 0 to 10 wt.% based on the o-nitroazobenzene. 14. A method as described in Claim 11, wherein the alkali is one or more members selected from the hydroxide, carbonate and hydrogencarbonate of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals. 15. A method as described in Claim 11, wherein the amount of the alkali is 2 to 6 moles based on 1 mole of the o-nitroazobenzene. 16. A method as described in Claim 11, wherein the naphthoquinone is one or more members selected from 1,2naphthoquinone, 1,4-naphthoquinone, 2,6-naphthoquinone, 2,3dichloro-1,4-naphthoquinone and naphthoquinones substituted with an alkyl group at the nucleus. 17. A method as described in Claim 11, wherein the amount of the naphthoquinone is 0.002 to 0.08 mole based on 1 mole of the o-nitroazobenzene in the first step and is 0.01 to 0.1 mole based on 1 mole of the 2-phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide in the second step. 18. A method as described in Claim 11, wherein the amount of the phosphorus is 0.2 to 2 moles based on 1 mole of the o-nitroazobenzene in the first step and is 0.2 to 2 moles based on 1 mole of the 2-phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide in the second step. 19. A method as described in Claim 11, wherein the amount of the hypophosphorous acid or its salt is 0.5 to 4 moles based on 1 mole of the o-nitroazobenzene in the first step and is 0.5 to 4 moles based on 1 mole of the 2phenylbenzotriazol-N-oxide.

Inventors: KANEOYA, TATSUO, MAEGAWA, YUZO, OKAMURA, HARUKI
Applicants: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
Application year: 1985
Main classification: C07D249
IPC codes: C07D249