| Abstract: | 2(2-Hydroxy-5-isopropenylphenyl)2H-benzotriazole was synthesized in 40% overall yield starting from o-nitroaniline. Diazotization in aqueous hydrochloric acid gave o-nitrophenyl diazonium chloride which was condensed with p-hydroxyacetophenone; the azo compound was reduced to 2(2-hydroxy-5-acetylphenyl) 2H-benzotriazole with zinc powder in sodium hydroxide solution and the 2-hydroxy group of the compound was acetylated. Treatment of the acetyl compound with methyl Grignard reagent resulted in the methylation of the 5-acetyl group to 22-acetoxy-5(2-hydroxy-2-propyl)phenyl]2H-benzotriazole which was then dehydrated with potassium hydrogen sulfate to the desired 2(2-hydroxy-5-isopropenylphenyl)2H-benzotriazole. This monomer did not homopolymerize, but was copolymerized readily with styrene, methyl methacrylate, and n-butyl acrylate with azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator. 2(2-Acetoxy-5-acetylphenyl)2H-benzotriazole was also reduced with sodium borohydride to form 22-acetoxy-5-(1-hydroxyethyl)phenyl]2H-benzotriazole which was dehydrated and hydrolyzed to the known 2(2-hydroxy-5-vinylphenyl)-2H-benzotriazole. This route provides a novel and simpler synthesis of 2(2-hydroxy-5-vinylphenyl)2H-benzotriazole. |
