Synthesis
2,4-TDI is prepared in three steps from toluene, which is doubly nitrated with nitric acid to give dinitrotoluene. This step determines the isomer ratio of the ultimate TDI. Hydrogenation of the dinitrotoluene produces the corresponding isomers of diaminotoluene (TDA). Finally, the TDA is subjected to phosgenation, i.e. treatment with phosgene to form TDI. This final step produces HCl as a byproduct and is a major source of industrial hydrochloric acid.
Distillation of the crude TDI mixture produces an 80:20 mixture of 2,4-TDI and 2,6-TDI, known as TDI (80/20). Differentiation or separation of the TDI (80/20) can be used to produce pure 2,4-TDI and a 65:35 mixture of 2,4-TDI and 2,6-TDI, known as TDI (65/35).
Read more about this topic: Toluene Diisocyanate
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