CAS No. 95-68-1 EINECS No. 2024400 MITI ref No. 3-129

Formula C8H11N Mol weight 121.2 b.p. 216oC

END APPLICATIONS: Pigments (yellow azo pigments), dyes (mainly acid red dyes) and agrochemicals (amitraz and mefluidide). Derivatives; acetoacet-2,4-xylidide (Pigment Orange 14, Pigment Yellow 13, Pigment Yellow 81, Pigment Yellow 127), Acid Orange 24, Acid Red 26, amitraz, 3-hydroxy-2-naphth-2',4'-xylidide (= azoic coupling component 29), mefluidide, Solvent Orange 7.

MERCHANT SUPPLIERS: Bayer D, EMS-Dottikon CH, First Chemicals US, Hoechst D, Nippon Kayaku Japan, Spektr Russia, Wenzhou Electrochemical China.

CAPTIVE PRODUCERS: Hoechst D and some of the other suppliers above.

SYNTHETIC ROUTE: Nitration of m-xylene gives two isomers one major, 4-nitro-1,3-xylene (which upon reduction gives this product) and one minor, 2-nitro-1,3-xylene.

DOWNSTREAM CHEMISTRY: Via the acetoacetate derivative to the pigments, via the sulfonated derivative to the dyes (the so called X-acid) and via the acetylated diamino derivative to mefluidide.

DEMAND: 2'500T, growing slightly.

STRENGTH/WEAKNESS: Few new opportunities can be forseen for this 'other' isomer to the more wanted and higher priced 2,6-isomer, maybe development of 4-nitrophthalic acid or analogues as new building blocks could make a difference. Good control of the existing market is necessary for a supplier. The isomer balance is a problem that is however overcome somewhat with the presence of an alternative route to the 2,6-isomer.

PRICES: Prices have been rather stable on the 5-6 USD/kg level.