Metal phthalocyanine catalyzed oxidation of 4-nitrotoluene-2-sulfonic acid to 4,4dinitrostilbene-2, 2-disulfonic acid

The effects of catalyst, alkali concentration, 4-nitrotoluene-2-sulfonic acid concentration, reaction temperature, and time of preparation of 4,4ʹ-dinitrostilbene-2,2ʹdisulfonic acid from 4-nitrotoluene-2-sulfonic acid was investigated. The results showed that the liquid-phase oxidation of 4-nitrotoluene-2-sulfonic acid under optimal conditions gives 4,4ʹ-dinitrostilbene-2,2ʹ-disulfonic acid in 81.8% yield and in 96.7% purity.