2,4-Diaminotoluene
2,4-Diaminotoluene is an aromatic organic compound with the formula. It is one isomer of six with this formula. It is a white solid, although commercial samples are often yellow-tan.
Preparation
It is prepared by hydrogenation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene using a nickel catalyst. Commercial samples often contain up to 20% of the 2,6-isomer.A laboratory method involves reduction of 2,4-dinitrotoluene with iron powder.
Use
It is mainly used to manufacture toluene diisocyanate, which is a key raw material in polyurethane chemistry. It is still the starting material used when non-phosgene methods of production of toluene diisocyanate are used.It is also a degradation product of polyurethane materials produced using toluene diisocyanate.
Its reaction with benzenediazonium chloride gives the cationic azo dye Basic Orange 1. Condensation of 2,4-diaminotoluene with acetaldehyde gives the acridine dye called Basic Yellow 9.