o-Phenylenediamine

"o-Phenylenediamine is a organic compound with the formula C₆H₄(NH₂)₂. This aromatic diamine is an important precursor to many heterocyclic compounds. It is isomeric with m-phenylenediamine and p-phenylenediamine, and is commonly referred to as OPD."

"o-Phenylenediamine condenses with ketones and aldehydes to give rise to a variety of useful products. Reactions with carboxylic acids and their derivatives afford benzimidazoles. The herbicide benomyl is prepared in this manner. Also, quinoxalinedione may be prepared by condensation of o-phenylenediamine with dimethyl oxalate. Condensation with xanthate esters affords mercaptoimidazoles, which are used as antioxidants in rubber products. Treatment with nitrous acid give benzotriazole, a corrosion inhibitor. Condensation of substituted o-phenylenediamine with various diketones is used in the preparation of a variety of pharmaceuticals."