PURPOSE: To obtain the titled compound useful as a raw material for agricultural chemicals, medicines, dyes, etc., by reacting m-nitrotoluene with a gas containing O2 in the presence of a catalytic system of Co-Br having a specific composition in a specified amount of acetic acid solvent at a specific temperature and pressure while feeding the m-nitrotoluene and the gas containing O2 continuously to a reactor.
CONSTITUTION: m-Nitrotoluene is oxidized with a gas containing O2 in the presence of a catalyst consisting of a Co compound and a bromine compound in acetic acid solvent to give m-nitrobenzoic acid. In the process, the acetic acid is used in an amount of 0.8W3 times of that of the m-nitrotoluene, and the catalyst consisting of Co in an amount of 0.1W1.5wt% based on the acetic acid and Br in an amount of 1W10 times of that of the Co is used. The oxidative reaction is carried out at 5W40 atm, preferably 8W30 atm, and 100W130°C by feeding at least 60% or more m-nitrotoluene to be reacted and substantially the total amount of gas containing O2 continuously to a reactor to give the aimed m- nitrobenzoic acid.
SONOYAMA HIROSHI
SUEMATSU MASAAKI
