Preparation of 2-anilinophenyl acetate

PURPOSE: The prepare the title compound for use as an anti-inflammatory agent or its intermediate industrially and economically advantageously, by halogenating novel N-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)iminocyclohexane-2-acetate, followed by dehydrohalogenation. CONSTITUTION: A novel compound shown by the formula I (R is alkyl) is halogenated by N-chlorosuccinic acid imide in an amount not too much excess of stoichiometric quantity. The product obtained is reacted with a dehydrohalogenating agent, e.g., pyridine, quinoline, having a relatively high boiling point preferably without purification to give the desired compound shown by the formula II. This compound is hydrolyzed to prepare 2-anilinophenyl acetate which is useful as an anodyne or an antifebrile. The compound shown by the formula I is obtained by changing cyclohexanone-2-acetate into its lower alkyl acetatal, which is heated with 2,6-dichloroaniline. COPYRIGHT: (C)1980,JPO&Japio