Abstract: In a process for preparing mixtures of diphenylmethane diisocyanates and polyphenylpolymethylene polyisocyanates having a reduced content of chlorinated by-products and a reduced iodine color number by two-stage reaction of the corresponding mixtures of diphenylmethanediamines and polyphenylpolymethylenepolyamines with phosgene in the presence of at least one inert organic solvent at elevated temperature, separation of the excess phosgene and solvent after the phosgenation is complete and thermal treatment of the reaction product, the mass ratios of phosgene to hydrogen chloride in the residence time apparatus of the second stage of the phosgenation are at the same time 10-30:1 in the liquid phase and 1-10:1 in the gas phase.

Abstract: Mixtures of diphenylmethane diisocyanates and polyphenylpolymethylene polyisocyanates (raw MDI) having a reduced iodine color number and a reduced chlorine content are prepared by reacting the corresponding mixtures of diphenylmethanediamines and polyphenylpolymethylenepolyamines with phosgene in the presence of at least one inert organic solvent at elevated temperature, and then, after phosgenation is complete, incorporating into the reaction mixture, in the presence or absence of the phosgene, a mixture of water and at least one monohydric or polyhydric polyoxyalkylene alcohol, preferably having a functionality of from 2 to 3, and advantageously having a hydroxyl number of from 20 to 1800, in an effective amount which advantageously comprises from more than 0.01 to 0.3% by weight of water (i) and from 0.

Abstract: Mixtures of diphenylmethane diisocyanates and polyphenylpolymethylene polyisocyanates (crude MDI) having a reduced iodine color number are prepared by reacting the corresponding mixtures of diphenylmethanediamines and polyphenylpolymethylene-polyamines with phosgene in the presence of one or more inert organic solvents at elevated temperatures by a process in which low molecular weight alkanols, polyhydric alcohols, preferably dihydric to octahydric alcohols having a molecular weight of from 60 to 350, or mixtures thereof are incorporated in an effective amount, advantageously in an amount of from 0.01 to 5% by weight, based on the weight of crude MDI, into the reaction mixture after the end of the phosgenation, the phosgene and the inert organic solvent are then separated off, from 0 to 5% by weight, based on the weight of crude MDI, of one or more phenol-based antioxidants and/or aryl phosphite are added to the reaction product, and the reaction mixture is subjected to a thermal treatment.

Abstract: Mixtures of diphenylmethane diisocyanates and polyphenylpolymethylene polyisocyanates (crude MDI) of reduced iodine color number are prepared by reacting the corresponding mixtures of diphenylmethanediamines and polyphenylpolymethylenepolyamines with phosgene in the presence of at least one inert organic solvent at elevated temperature, at least one monohydric or polyhydric polyoxyalkylene alcohol, preferably having a functionality of from 2 to 3, and advantageously having a hydroxyl number of from 20 to 1800, or mixtures thereof in an effective amount, expediently in an amount of from 0.1 to 10% by weight, based on the weight of the crude MDI, being introduced into the reaction mixture when the phosgenation is complete, the phosgene and the inert organic solvent then being removed, up to 5% by weight, based on the weight of crude MDI, of at least one phenol-based antioxidant and/or aryl phosphite being added, if desired to the reaction product, and the reaction mixture being heated.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate and a mixture of diphenylmethane diisocyanate isomers containing a controllable amount of uretdione and hydrolizable chlorine which comprises feeding crude MDI to an evaporator, condensing a head fraction in two stages in the presence of an inert gas, feeding the first stage condensate to a distillation column, producing a mixture of diphenylmethane diisocyanate isomers as an overhead, producing 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate as a side draw, and condensing each of the overhead and side draw in two stages in the presence of an inert gas.