Formanilide is readily converted to its sodium salt by heating with metallic sodium or sodium hydride. Sodium formanilide condenses rapidly with p-nitrochlorobenzene in a high-boiling solvent at 150-165" C. The condensation is further accelerated by addition of dimethylformamide. The product is 4-nitrodiphenylamine (1)(87-9136 yield) which is readily hydrogenated to the title compound. Several other nitrodiphenylamines were prepared by ...
