A method for manufacturing an isocyanate compound represented by formula (2) (2) wherein R1 represents a methyl group, an ethyl group, a cyclopropyl group, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, or a methoxy group; and R2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, comprising reacting an aniline compound represented by formula (1) (1) wherein R1 and R2 are defined as above with a phosgene compound at a temperature of from 40° C. to the boiling point of the inert solvent in at least one kind of inert solvent.

A method for manufacturing an isocyanate compound represented by formula (2) (2) wherein R1 represents a methyl group, an ethyl group, a cyclopropyl group, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, or a methoxy group; and R2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, comprising reacting an aniline compound represented by formula (1) (1) wherein R1 and R2 are defined as above with a phosgene compound at a temperature of from 40° C. to the boiling point of the inert solvent in at least one kind of inert solvent.

A process for preparing an aromatic isocyanate by direct carbonylation of a nitro aromatic compound by reacting the nitro aromatic compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst, characterized in that the catalyst contains a multi metallic material comprising one or more binary intermetallic phases of the general formula A.sub.xB.sub.y wherein: A is one or more element selected from Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt and Ag, B is one or more element selected from Sn, Sb, Pb, Zn, Ga, In, Ge and As, x is in the range 0.1-10, y in is in the range 0.1-10.

A process for preparing an aromatic isocyanate by direct carbonylation of a nitro aromatic compound by reacting the nitro aromatic compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst, characterized in that the catalyst contains a multi metallic material comprising one or more binary intermetallic phases of the general formula A.sub.xB.sub.y wherein: A is one or more element selected from Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt and Ag, B is one or more element selected from Sn, Sb, Pb, Zn, Ga, In, Ge and As, x is in the range 0.1-10, y in is in the range 0.1-10.

The disclosure provides, inter alia, safe and environmentally-friendly methods, such as flow chemistry, to synthesize isocyanates, such as methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, and tetramethylxylene diisocyanate.

The disclosure provides, inter alia, safe and environmentally-friendly methods, such as flow chemistry, to synthesize isocyanates, such as methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, toluene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, and tetramethylxylene diisocyanate.

A process for preparing an aromatic isocyanate by direct carbonylation of a nitro aromatic compound by reacting the nitro aromatic compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst, characterized in that the catalyst contains a multi metallic material comprising one or more binary intermetallic phases of the general formula A.sub.xB.sub.y wherein: A is one or more element selected from Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt and Ag, B is one or more element selected from Sn, Sb, Pb, Zn, Ga, In, Ge and As, x is in the range 0.1-10, y in is in the range 0.1-10.

A process for preparing an aromatic isocyanate by direct carbonylation of a nitro aromatic compound by reacting the nitro aromatic compound with carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst, characterized in that the catalyst contains a multi metallic material comprising one or more binary intermetallic phases of the general formula A.sub.xB.sub.y wherein: A is one or more element selected from Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt and Ag, B is one or more element selected from Sn, Sb, Pb, Zn, Ga, In, Ge and As, x is in the range 0.1-10, y in is in the range 0.1-10.

A method for the preparation of isocyanates in which: (i) a first organosilicon compound having at least one silicon atom Si.sup.1 and a unit of formula G-I bound thereto

##STR00001##

is converted to a third organosilicon compound having a unit of formula G-II

##STR00002##

by silylation of the NH group of the unit of formula G-I with a second organosilicon compound having one silicon atom Si.sup.2; and (ii) the third organosilicon compound is reacted to an isocyanate by thermolysis, whereby the unit of formula G-II is converted to an isocyanate group.

By reacting 3-methyl-2-methoxymethylaniline, etc. with a phosgene compound in the presence of a tertiary amine at 10° C. to 14° C. in at least one kind of solvent selected from a group consisting of chlorobenzene and ortho-dichlorobenzene, an isocyanate compound such as 3-methyl-2-methoxymethyl-1-isocyanatobenzene can be manufactured with good yields.