An improved process for the preparation of 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-ol

Abstract: A process for the preparation of 3,5,6-­ trichloropyridin-2-ol from trichloroacetyl chloride and acrylonitrile is improved by separately conducting the individual addition, cyclization and aromatization steps. By separating these steps, water and HCl, which are by-products of the latter steps, can be precluded from interfering with the earlier steps. The individual process steps have also been improved.

Description: The present invention concerns an improved process for preparing 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-ol from trichloroacetyl chloride and acrylonitrile. 3,5,6-Trichloropyridin-2-ol is an intermediate in the manufacture of several agricultural pesticides, e.g., chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos-methyl and triclopyr. U.S. Patent 4,327,216 describes a process for preparing a mixture of 2,3,5,6-tetrachloropyridine and 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-ol by reacting trichloroacetyl chloride with acrylonitrile in the presence of a catalyst. The following series of reactions is responsible for the products obtained in said patent (Scheme I). Although the series of reactions is advantageously carried out in a single operation and in a closed system under pressure, the combined yield of 2,3,5,6-tetrachloropyridine and 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-ol is not very high. Furthermore, the reaction typically produces a mixture of the two products which must be separated or treated in subsequent operations to convert one product into the other. It is desirable to have a process to prepare 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-ol in higher yields and without any tetrachloropyridine by-product. Abstract No. 97100 d from Chemical Abstracts 111 (1989) refers to Brazilian Patent Application 87 03,983. It relates to a process for preparing 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-ol which comprises the following steps: (a) reacting trichloroacetyl chloride with acetonitrile 3 hours at a reflux temperature of 140°C in the presence of Ph NO 2 and (a catalytic amound of) cuprous chloride giving 97.8% of 3,3,5,6-tetrachloro-3,4-dihydropyridin-2-one; (b) adding 50% KOH in water at 20°C and stirring, giving two separated phases of 60°C; and (c) acidifying the aqueous phase to pH=2 by H 2 SO 4 giving after filtration 97% of 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-ol. The aim of the present invention is to provide for an alternative process providing 3,5,6-trichloro-pyridin-2-ol in high yield. The present invention is directed to a process for the preparation of 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-ol which comprises the steps of (a) reacting trichloroacetyl chloride with acrylonitrile at a temperature from 50 to 140°C in the presence of a catalytic amount of copper or a cuprous salt; (b) producing 3,3,5,6-tetrachloro-2-pyridinone; and (c) preparing 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-ol therefrom, characterized in that in step (a) 2,2,4-trichloro-4-cyanobutanoyl chloride is produced while removing any HCl formed by operating under reflux conditions; step (b) is carried out by reacting the 2,2,4-trichloro-4-cyanobutanoyl chloride in an inert organic solvent with anhydrous HCl at a pressure from 136 to 1,480 kPa and at a temperature from ambient to 100°C to cyclize the butanoyl chloride to 3,3,5,6-tetrachloro-3,4-dihydropyridin-2-one; and step (c) is carried out by reacting the 3,3,5,6-tetrachloro-3,4-dihydropyridin-2-one with chloride ion in an inert organic solvent to produce the 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2 ol. The present invention is further directed to the various process improvements as they relate to the individual steps. It has been found that 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-ol can be prepared in high yield and without tetrachloropyridine as a by-product by conducting the addition, cyclization and aromatization reactions separately. Addition: Cyclization: Aromatization: The first reaction, the addition reaction of trichloroacetyl chloride to acrylonitrile produces 2,2,4-trichloro-4-cyanobutanoyl chloride, which cyclizes in the presence of HCl. The cyclization intermediate, depending on whether HCl or H 2 O is eliminated, can yield one of three products: 3,3,5,6-tetrachloro-3,4-dihydropyridin-2-one; 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-ol; or 2,3,5,5-tetrachloropyridine. It has now been found that the water produced during the formation of the tetrachloropyridine is a major contributor to yield loss via numerous side reactions. Water can be formed during the cyclization process which itself is acid catalyzed. The present invention provides a process for achieving better yields by removing any HCl formed by decomposition of the reactants during the addition step. For convenience, HCl is removed and hence water formation is precluded by preferentially conducting the addition reaction under reflux. Trichloroacetyl chloride (TCAC) and acrylonitrile (VCN) are items of commerce and are routinely distilled prior to use. The trichloroacetyl chloride and acrylonitrile can be reacted in molar ratios ranging from stoichiometric, i.e., 1:1, to a 2 to 3 fold excess of either reagent, i.e., 1:3 to 3:1 VCN/TCAC. Ratios of VCN/TCAC of 1.1 to 1.3 are generally preferred. The addition reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalytic amount of a cuprous salt under an inert atmosphere, such as, for example, nitrogen or argon. Cuprous salts that can be employed include, for example, the chloride, bromide, iodide, oxide or acetate, preferably the halides. Catalysts that are partially oxidized to the cupric oxidation state or are hydrated are less effective than the pure materials. The addition of copper metal, which itself can be oxidized to the cuprous oxidation state while simultaneously preventing further oxidation to the cupric oxidation state, can advantageously be employed. The cuprous catalyst is usually employed in an amount corresponding to from 0.005 to 0.05 moles of catalyst per mole of trichloroacetyl chloride, although larger proportions can be used. The addition reaction may be carried out neat or in the presence of an inert solvent. Alkylnitriles, such as acetonitrile, are commonly used for the cuprous catalyzed addition of polyhalogen compounds to olefins. However, the addition of acetonitrile to the reaction mixture does not provide any beneficial effects. Therefore, the reaction is preferably conducted neat or with excess TCAC or VCN effectively serving as the solvent. Trichloroacetyl chloride can be commercially prepared by the photochemical oxidation of perchloroethylene; see, for example, U.S. Patent 2,427,624. Prepared by this procedure, TCAC typically contains about 15 percent residual perchloroethylene. Perchloroethylene has no negative effect on the addition chemistry. To prevent the production of HCl by the premature cyclization of 2,2,4-trichloro-4-cyanobutanoyl chloride, reaction temperatures should be maintained from 50 to 140°C. To remove any HCl produced by the decomposition of TCAC, the reaction is run at reflux. The reflux temperature is determined by the composition of the mixture. Ideally, the temperature should be maintained between 70-120°C, preferably between 80-105°C. The preferred temperatures are conveniently between the boiling points of VCN and TCAC at atmospheric pressure. When the reaction is conducted neat or with VCN or TCAC in excess as an effective solvent, the reflux temperature gradually increases as the lower boiling reactants are converted to higher boiling product. The addition reaction is preferably conducted under an inert atmosphere, such as, for example, under a nitrogen or argon blanket. Although conveniently conducted at atmospheric pressure, the reaction is preferably run under a slight positive pressure of up to 136 kPa (5 psig) of the blanketing inert gas which helps in keeping the reaction mixture dry. In a typical reaction, freshly distilled TCAC, VCN and anhydrous CuCl are heated under reflux in a nitrogen atmosphere. After the addition reaction is complete, generally in from 8 to 48 hours (hrs), the product 2,2,4-trichloro-4-cyanobutanoyl chloride can be recovered by conventional techniques. The product can be conveniently isolated, for example, by evaporating any volatile TCAC or VCN, adding a suitable solvent in which the spent copper catalyst is not soluble and in which the subsequent cyclization reaction can be advantageously conducted, and removing the catalyst by filtration. Suitable solvents include aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons and carboxylic acid esters. Product of greater than 90 percent purity can be obtained by evaporation of the solvent. Alternatively, the filtrate so obtained can be used directly in the subsequent cyclization reaction. The cyclization of 2,2,4-trichloro-4-cyano-butanoyl chloride to 3,3,5,6-tetrachloro-3,4-dihydropyridin-2-one is catalyzed by acidic reagents, preferably in an anhydrous state. The cyclization is conveniently carried out, for example, by reacting the 2,2,4-trichloro-4-cyanobutanoyl chloride with anhydrous HCl. Simply sparging anhydrous HCl into the 2,2,4-trichloro-4-cyanobutanoyl chloride at atmospheric pressure in the absence of a solvent does not accomplish cyclization. Since higher temperatures lead to greater amounts of dehydration and tetrachloropyridine formation, it is beneficial to keep the temperature below 100°C. The cyclization reaction is effectively run from ambient temperature to 100°C, preferably from 40° to 60°C. In order to keep the reaction mixture mobile at temperatures below the melting point of the product and in order to keep the anhydrous HCl in effective contact with the reaction mixture, it is preferable to conduct the cyclization under pressure in the presence of a solvent. Pressures from 136 to 1,480 kPa (5 to 200 psig) are routinely employed; those from 273 to 1,135 kPa (25 to 150 psig) are preferred. Suitable solvents for the cyclization reaction include aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons and carboxylic acid esters. Examples of suitable solvents of each class include but are not limited to the following: toluene and xylenes; methylene chloride, ethylene dichloride (EDC) and perchloroethylene (PERC); and ethyl acetate. The cyclization reaction may be conveniently conducted in a batch reaction or in a continuous fashion in a coil reactor. In a typical reaction, 2,2,4-trichloro-4-cyanobutanoyl chloride is diluted with the desired solvent in a closed pressure vessel, and the vessel is pressurized with anhydrous HCl to the desired pressure. The reaction fixture is stirred at the appropriate temperature until the reaction is completed, usually from one to three hours. The reaction vessel is vented and the product, 3,3,5,6-tetrachloro-3,4-dihydropyridin-2-one, can be isolated by conventional procedures. For example, evaporation of the solvent provides a crude solid product which can be slurried with an aliphatic hydrocarbon, such as hexane, and which can then be isolated by filtration. Product so obtained is sufficiently pure after drying to be used in the subsequent aromatization. Alternatively, the crude reaction mixture can be used directly, Immediately after venting and removal of the HCl. The aromatization of 3,3,5,6-tetrachloro-3,4-dihydropyridin-2-one to 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-ol is accomplished by a treatment with chloride ion in an organic solvent. Suitable solvents for the aromatization reaction include aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons and carboxylic acid esters. Examples of suitable solvents of each class include the following: toluene and xylenes; methylene chloride, ethylene dichloride and perchloroethylene; and ethyl acetate. Naturally, it is preferable to employ the same solvent that has previously been used in the cyclization reaction. As said, the aromatization reaction can be accomplished by treating the 3,3,5,6-tetrachloro-3,4-dihydropyridin-2-one with chloride ion in an Inert organic solvent. The chloride ion may be added directly or may be generated in situ by initiating the elimination of HCl from the pyridone. Since chloride ion is generated by the elimination of HCl from the substrate. only catalytic quantities of chloride ion or of a material capable of initiating the elimination of HCl are needed. Suitable catalysts contemplated by the above definition include but are not limited to the following types of materials: tertiary or aromatic amine bases, such as, for example, trialkyl amines, pyridine, picolines or lutidines; quaternary ammonium or phosphonium salts, such as, for example. tetraalkyl or aryl ammonium or phosphonium halides: crown ether complexes, such as, for example, 18-Crown-6/KCl; and ion exchange resins, particularly amine resins such as. for example, MSA-1 Dow Ion Exchange Resin. Specific examples of suitable materials include the following: tetrabutylammonium halides, tetraphenylphosphonium halides, nonyltriphenylphosphonium halides, benzyltriethylammonium halides, pyridinium halides and poly (4-vinylpyridine). MSA-1 Dow Ion Exchange Resin and tetrabutylammonium chloride are among the preferred catalysts. These catalysts are usually employed in an amount corresponding to from 0.002 to 0.2 moles of catalyst per mole of 3,3,5,6-tetrachloro-3,4-dihydropyridin-2-one, preferably from 0.005 to 0.05 moles of catalyst per mole of dihydropyridone. Suitable solvents for the aromatization reaction include the aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated hydrocarbons and carboxylic acid esters as described above. Perchloroethylene is a particularly preferred solvent for this reaction. The reaction is conducted at a temperature from between 40° to 120°C, preferably at the reflux temperature of the mixture. In a typical reaction, the 3,3,5,6-tetrachloro-3,4-dihydropyridin-2-one is contacted with the catalyst and solvent, and the reaction mixture is heated to reflux. After the reaction is complete, generally in from 1 to 3 hrs, the desired 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-ol can be isolated by conventional techniques. For example, if an insoluble catalyst such as MSA-1 Dow Ion Exchange Resin is employed, the catalyst can be removed by filtration while hot and can be recovered and recycled in subsequent reactions. After the removal of the catalyst, the reaction solution can be cooled to crystallize the trichloropyridinol which is then isolated by filtration. If a soluble catalyst such as tetrabutylammonium chloride is used, the reaction solution can be cooled to crystallize the trichloropyridinol which is isolated by filtration. The filtrate containing the soluble catalyst can be recycled directly. The present invention is illustrated by the following examples; however, these examples should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of the present claims. Example 1 Addition of Trichloroacetyl Chloride to Acrylonitrile Freshly distilled trichloroacetyl chloride (TCAC), acrylonitrile (VCN) and anhydrous catalyst were heated under reflux in a nitrogen atmosphere. Percent conversion was determined by withdrawing, cooling, filtering and analyzing samples by gas chromatography (GC) or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Product was isolated by cooling the reaction mixture, evaporating the volatile starting materials and removing the catalyst by filtration. The results are summarized in Table I. Example 2 Cyclization of 2,2,4-Trichloro-4-Cyanobutanoyl Chloride The cyclizations were carried out in a 600 milliliter (mL) Hastelloy C Bomb equipped with a magnetic drive. The 2,2,4-trichloro-4-cyanobutanoyl chloride was diluted with the desired solvent and the bomb pressurized with anhydrous HCl to the desired pressure. After stirring for the indicated time the bomb was vented and the contents transferred to a round bottom flask for evaporation on a rotary evaporator. The contents were slurried with hexane to facilitate isolation by filtration. The results are summarized in Table II. CYCLIZATION OF 2,2,4-TRICHLORO-4-CYANOBUTANOYL CHLORIDE TO 3,3,5,6-TETRACHLORO-3,4-DIHYDROPYRIDIN-2-ONE Solvent Temp°C Time (hrs) Pressure HCl psig (kPa) %Yield EDC 25 16 200 (1,480) 93 EDC 25 1.5 100 (790) 92 EDC 25 2.0 100 (790) 97 EDC 25 2.0 100 (790) 97 Example 3 Aromatization of 3,3,5,6-Tetrachloro-3,4-Dihydropyridin-2-one. To a 25 mL three neck round bottom flask was added 5 g of 3,3,5,6-tetrachloro-3,4-dihydropyridin-2-one, 0.1 g of catalyst and 25 mL of solvent. The reaction mixture was heated to reflux and reaction progress was monitored by GC. Product was recovered by filtration. In each instance isolated yields were at least 90 percent. Table III summarizes the catalysts and solvents employed. CATALYSTS AND SOLVENTS EMPLOYED IN NONAQUEOUS AROMATIZATION OF 3,3,5,6-TETRACHLORO-3,4-DIHYDROPYRIDIN-2-ONE Catalyst Solvent 2-picoline toluene 2,6-lutidine o-xylene Tetrabutylammonium fluoride perchloroethylene Tetrabutylammonium chloride perchloroethylene Tetrabutylammonium bromide perchloroethylene Tetrabutylammonium iodide perchloroethylene Tetrabutylammonium cyanide perchloroethylene Tetraphenylphosphonium chloride perchloroethylene Tetraphenylphosphonium bromide perchloroethylene Tetrabutylphosphonium acetate perchloroethylene n-Nonyltriphenylphosphonium bromide perchloroethylene MSA-1 Dow Ion Exchange Resin perchloroethylene Benzyltriethylammonium chloride perchloroethylene Pyridinium chloride perchloroethylene Poly (4-vinylpyridine) perchloroethylene 18-Crown-6/KCl perchloroethylene Example 4 Consecutive Cyclization-Aromatization The cyclizations were carried out in a 600 mL Hastelloy C bomb equipped with a magnetic drive. The 2,2,4-trichloro-4-cyanobutanoyl chloride (ADDUCT) was diluted with 150 mL of perchloroethylene and the bomb was pressurized to 150 psig (1,135 kPa) with anhydrous HCl. After stirring for 2 hrs at the indicated temperature, the bomb was vented and the contents transferred with the aid of an additional 100 mL of perchloroethylene to a round bottom flask containing MSA-1 Dow Ion Exchange Resin. The mixture was refluxed for 1.5 hrs and the solid catalyst was removed by filtration while hot. The filtrate was cooled to crystallize the 3,5,6-trichloro-pyridin-2-ol which was isolated by filtration and dried. The results are summarized in Table IV. Cyclization-Aromatization Cyclization Aromatization Adduct (g) Temp°C MSA Resin (g) %Yield 61 25° 3.2 86 72 50° 3.2 87 64 50° 3.2 91

Claims: A process for the preparation of 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-ol which comprises the steps of (a) reacting trichloroacetyl chloride with acrylonitrile at a temperature from 50 to 140°C in the presence of a catalytic amount of copper or a cuprous salt; (b) producing 3,3,5,6-tetrachloro-2-pyridinone; and (c) preparing 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-ol therefrom, characterized in that in step (a) 2,2,4-trichloro-4-cyanobutanoyl chloride is produced while removing any HCl formed by operating under reflux conditions; step (b) is carried out by reacting the 2,2,4-trichloro-4-cyanobutanoyl chloride in an inert organic solvent with anhydrous HCl at a pressure from 136 to 1,480 kPa and at a temperature from ambient to 100°C to cyclize the butanoyl chloride to 3,3,5,6-tetrachloro-3,4-dihydropyridin-2-one; and step (c) is carried out by reacting the 3,3,5,6-tetrachloro-3,4-dihydropyridin-2-one with chloride ion in an inert organic solvent to produce the 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2 ol. A process for the preparation of 2,2,4-trichloro-4-cyanonbutanoyl chloride which comprises reacting trichloroacetyl chloride with acrylonitrile at a temperature from 50 to 140°C in te presence of a catalytic amount of copper or a cuprous salt while removing any HCl formed by operating under reflux conditions. The process according to claim 2 which is performed from atmospheric pressure to a slight positive pressure of up to 136 kPa. A process for the preparation of 3,3,5,6-tetrachloro-3,4-dihydropyridin-2-one which comprises reacting 2,2,4-trichloro-4-cyanobutanoyl chloride in an inert organic solvent with anhydrous HCl at a pressure from 136 to 1,480 kPa and at a temperature from ambient to 100°C. The process according to claim 4 in which the inert organic solvent is an aromatic hydrocarbon, a halogenated hydrocarbon or a carboxylic acid ester. A process for the preparation of 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-ol which comprises reacting 3,3,5,6-tetrachloro-3,4-dihydropyridin-2-one with chloride ion in an inert organic solvent. The process according to claim 6 in which the chloride ion is generated in situ by elimination of HCl from the dihydropyridone. The process according to claim 6 or 7 in which the inert organic solvent is an aromatic hydrocarbon, a halogenated hydrocarbon or a carboxylic acid ester. The process according to any one of claims 6-8 in which the reaction is conducted at a temperature from 40° to 120°C.

Inventors: PEWS GARTH R, PEWS, GARTH R.
Applicants: DOWELANCO
Application year: 1990
Main classification: C07D213
IPC codes: C07C255, B01J27, C07C253, C07B61, B01J23, C07D213