Pesticide Intermediates in Urgent Need in China   

Phthalimide is a major downstream product of phthalic anhydride. It is mainly used in the production of pesticides such as folpet and phosmet. In addition, many fine chemical intermediates with good market prospects can be derived from this product, such as N-methyl phthalimide, 4-nitro-phthalimide, N-chloromethyl phthalimide, etc. (N-substituent can be methyl, ethyl, butyl, hexyl and benzyl). Many of these intermediates are in short supply in China and thus have very good market prospects. In 2009, the production capacity and output of phthalimide in China were about 16 000 t/a and 12 000 tons, respectively. Its most promising application areas are herbicides, plant growth regulators and drugs. In 2010, the market demand for it in China is estimated to exceed 20 000 tons.
    2-Hydroxyquinoline is an intermediate for the production of pesticides such as quinalphos and herbicides such as quizalofop-ethyl. The annual output of quinalphos in China is about 1 000 -1 300 tons. This cannot meet the domestic market demand, so China still needs to import quinalphos from abroad. Because the existing production technology of 2 - hydroxyquinoline in China is relatively backward, this results in the unstable quality and high cost of quinalphos. Some quinalphos manufacturers have to depend on imported 2-hydroxyquinoline as the raw material to produce quinalphos. It is expected that the demand for 2-hydroxyquinoline in China's pesticide industry will be about 1 200 - 1 500 tons in 2012.
   2-Ethyl anthraquinone is mainly used as a pesticide intermediate. It can also be used as a dye intermediate. In recent years, the demand for hydrogen peroxide in China has developed rapidly. In 2005, it was 2 million tons. In 2009, it reached 2.8 million tons, with an average annual growth rate of 18%. Now, the annual demand for 2-ethyl anthraquinone in the hydrogen peroxide industry is more than 1 800 tons, and that from the pesticide industry is about 1 000 tons. So, the total demand for 2-ethyl anthraquinone in China reaches more than 2 800 tons. But, China's 2-ethyl anthraquinone synthesis technology is relatively backward, and high-quality products are very little. Both the quality and quantity of this product cannot meet the needs of domestic pesticide and hydrogen peroxide industries. Every year, China needs to import hundreds of tons of high-quality 2-ethyl anthraquinone from abroad to meet the needs of domestic pesticide and hydrogen peroxide industries.
   2,2,3,3-Tetrafluoro-1-propanol (TFP) can be used as a solvent and extractant in the synthesis of pesticides. It is also a fluorinated surfactant. Its most important use is for the synthesis of sodioum tetrafluopanate, which is a new-type and high-efficiency herbicide for dry farmland. The global output of TFP is now about 6 000 tons. Its supply falls short of demand. The average annual growth rate of the market demand for it will reach more than 10% in coming years. At present, there are several pilot production units of TFP in China. Many companies in the country now plan to build large-scale TFP plants. It is expected that in 2012, the annual demand for TFP will reach more than 1 500 tons in China.
   2-Bromo propionates are important pesticide and pharmaceutical intermediates, mainly used for the synthesis of new herbicides, such as napropamide, naproanilide, haloxyfop, fenthiaprop-ethyl, fluazifop-p-butyl, clomeprop, ethoxyfen-ethyl, etc. They are also used in the synthesis of pharmaceutical intermediate alanine and other fine chemical intermediates. They mainly include methyl 2-bromide propionate and ethyl 2-bromo propionate. Several companies in China now produce them. But their production technology is relatively backward, featuring low yields, high costs and serious environmental pollution. In terms of quality, quantity and costs, their products cannot meet the needs of domestic pesticide and pharmaceutical industries. At present, the demand for 2-bromo propionates from China's pesticide industry is about 2 200 tons a year. It is expected to reach about 2 500 tons in 2012.
  IDAA has a wide range of uses. In the pesticide industry, it is mainly used for the synthesis of glyphosate. Its intermediate - iminodiacetic acetonitrile - can be used in the synthesis of 2-amino pyrazine and pyrazine, which are both very marketable pesticide intermediates.
     IDAA is now mainly used for the production of herbicide glyphosate. In recent years, the market demand for glyphosate in China has kept growing. In 2010, China's glyphosate production capacity reached 800 000 t/a. 80% of the country's glyphosate capacity, about 640 000 t/a, now uses the IDAA process. So, the potential demand for IDAA from China's pesticide industry can reach more than 230 000 t/a.
    Glutaraldehyde is known as the third-generation chemical bactericide.  Medically, it is the preferential disinfect for the disinfection of medical and surgical instruments at home and abroad. For oilfield water injection, it has better sterilizing effects than the currently used quaternary ammonium salt. In the agricultural field, it also has very good bactericidal effects. At present, the potential annual demand for glutaraldehyde in China is 12 000 tons, including 6 000 tons from the oilfield, 1 200 tons from the medical area and 1 500 tons from the agricultural area. Every year, China imports thousands of tons of glutaraldehyde and its additives from abroad to meet the needs of the domestic market.