A process for the preparation of 4,6-diamino-resorcinol dihydrochloride

The invention concerns 4,6-diamino-resorcinol which is prepared in the form of its dihydrochloride by catalytic hydrogenation of 1,3-dibenzyloxy-4,6-dinitrobenzene on a noble metal contact in a two-phase mixture of dilute aqueous hydrochloric acid and an organic solvent which is not miscible with dilute aqueous hydrochloric acid. This process is carried out at a pressure of between 1 and 200 bar and a temperature of between 0 and 200 DEG C.