Meta Toluene Sulphonic Acid and Related Compounds

A scientific thesis submitted in 1920, likely written in the early 20th century during the period of significant advancements in organic chemistry. This work primarily focuses on the synthesis and analysis of meta toluene sulfonic acid and explores related compounds, contributing to the understanding of sulfonation processes and the properties of the resulting acids. In this thesis, Allen investigates several methods for synthesizing meta toluene sulfonic acid, particularly through the sulfonation of ortho and para toluidine. The process includes detailed discussions on previous studies and a series of experimental results aiming to isolate and characterize the compounds. Notably, the author outlines the successful conversion of ortho toluidine into its corresponding sulfonic acid and the complex sulfonation of para toluidine, yielding a variety of isomeric acids. Furthermore, the paper presents findings on diazotization reactions and the stability of the diazo compound formed, contributing valuable insights to the field of organic chemistry and the study of toluene derivatives.