[jmart14]

So my desired product is ortho phenylenediamine with a sulfate/sulfonic acid group that is para to one amide group and meta to the other. Suggestions? Not neccessarily any specific starting materials.

[TheUnassuming]

A few, though in the interest of keeping with the forum rules how about you start by telling us some of your ideas?

[jmart14]

I am attempting to synthesis benzene with the ortho amines with the sulfo groups on the opposite side to increase water solubility. Once made it will be reacted through a condensation reaction will phendione (1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione) to form a dppz (dipyridophenazine) ligand that has the the sulfo group on the opposite end of the phenanthroline. Thus far my attempts were reacting 2-nitro-5-chloroaniline with dimethylamine in DMF with potassium carbonate, NMR resulted in an unexpected spectra, indicating side reactions. However ei-ms indicated the correct product. Upon reduction attempts of the product (desired 2-nitro-5-dimethylaniline) apparently the reaction is extremely air sensitive.

[jmart14]

@ the unassuming, didnt see the rules initially, thanks for the heads up.

[TheUnassuming]

No worries!
Looking around a little bit I was able to find this paper: Tetrahedron Volume 64, Issue 22, 26 May 2008, Pages 5410–5415.  Where they take o-phenylenediamine and cook it at 137C in conc. sulfuric acid to give the product directly in 96% yield!  This would be a much faster and direct method to your desired material. 
Give it a try and let us know how it works out for you!

[jmart14]

Will do, thanks looks useful.