Amine derivatives, from aromatic nitro compounds

Notable examples of general synthetic procedures in Volume 47 include the synthesis of aromatic aldehydes (from dichloro-methyl methyl ether), aliphatic aldehydes (from alkyl halides and trimethylamine oxide and by oxidation of alcohols using dimethyl sulfoxide, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, and pyridinum trifluoro-acetate the latter method is particularly useful since the conditions are so mild), carbethoxycycloalkanones (from sodium hydride, diethyl carbonate, and the cycloalkanone), m-dialkylbenzenes (from the />-isomer by isomerization with hydrogen fluoride and boron trifluoride), and the deamination of amines (by conversion to the nitrosoamide and thermolysis to the ester). Other general methods are represented by the synthesis of 1 J-difluoroolefins (from sodium chlorodifluoroacetate, triphenyl phosphine, and an aldehyde or ketone), the nitration of aromatic rings (with ni-tronium tetrafluoroborate), the reductive methylation of aromatic nitro compounds (with formaldehyde and hydrogen), the synthesis of dialkyl ketones (from carboxylic acids and iron powder), and the preparation of 1-substituted cyclopropanols (from the condensation of a 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol derivative and ethyl-... 

Many polycyclic aromatic amines and aldehydes are commercially available, but their supply is very limited. Preparation of these starting materials is necessary for studying the (3-lactam formation reaction [93]. Nitro compounds are the precursors for the amines. An important task was to prepare polycyclic aromatic nitro compounds, particularly those of chrysene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and dibenzofluorene in good yield. Nitration of these hydrocarbons with concentrated nitric acid in sulfuric acid is a widely used reaction for this purpose. Our research culminated in facile synthesis of polyaromatic nitro derivative 9 starting from polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) 8 through the use of bismuth nitrate impregnated with clay (Scheme 1) ([94, 95] for some examples of bismuth nitrate-catalyzed reactions... 

For each part of this problem, keep in mind that aromatic amines are derived by reduction of the corresponding aromatic nitro compound. Each synthesis should be approached from the standpoint of how best to prepare the necessary nitroaromatic compound. 

Melphalan and the racemic analog have been prepared by two general routes (Scheme I). In Approach (A) the amino acid function is protected, and the nitrogen mustard moiety is prepared by conventional methods from aromatic nitro-derivatives. Thus, the ethyl ester of N-phthaloyl-phenylalanine was nitrated and reduced catalytically to amine I. Compound I was reacted with ethylene oxide to form the corresponding bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino derivative II, which was then treated with phosphorus oxychloride or thionyl chloride. The blocking groups were removed by acidic hydrolysis. Melphalan was precipitated by addition of sodium acetate and was recrystallized from methanol. No racemization was detected [10,28—30]. The hydrochloride was obtained in pure form from the final hydrolysis mixture by partial neutralization to pH 0.5 [31]. Variants of this approach, used for the preparation of the racemic compound, followed the same route via the a-acylamino-a-p-aminobenzyl malonic ester III [10,28—30,32,33] or the hydantoin IV [12]. 

The nitro group of aromatic nitro compounds has been removed with sodium bor-ohydride. This reaction involves an addition-elimination mechanism. Reduction of the C—N bond on aromatic amines with Li metal in THF generates the aryl compounds.Sodium nitrite, sodium bisulfite in EtOH/water/acetic acid does a similar reduction.Conversion of the aniline derivative to the methanesulfona-mide and subsequent treatment with NaH and NH2CI gives the same result. The BuaSnH reagent also reduces isocyanides, RNC (prepared from RNH2 by for-mylation followed by 17-31), to a reaction that can also be accomplished... 

The different steps of the biotransformations that produce a primary amine from an aromatic nitro compound involve a nitro radical-anion, a nitroso derivative, a nitroxyl radical, a hydroxylamine and then the primary amine (Figure 33.15). 

Aromatic nitro compounds are comparable with pyridine derivatives in reactivity and can sometimes be aminated directly. l-(4 -Nitro-l -naphthyl)-piperidine was obtained from 1-nitronaphthalene and sodium piperidide (sodamide and piperidine).396 Nitrobenzene and the alkali derivative of carbazole397 or diphenylamine398 gave the corresponding /7-amino derivative, 9-(/7-nitrophenyl)carbazole (70%) and 4-nitrotriphenylamine (45%). Huisgen and Rist399 record the reaction of nitrobenzene with lithium piperidide. 

Amination of aromatic nitro compounds often occurs smoothly and directly also on condensation with hydroxylamine in alkaline solution, the amino group normally entering ortho or para to the nitro group. One nitro group activates naphthalene derivatives sufficiently, but in the benzene series two are necessary to induce this reaction. 2-Nitro-l-naphthylamine was thus obtained (80%) from 2-nitronaphthalene,400 and 4-nitro-l-naphthyl-amine (60%) from 1-nitronaphthylamine.401 The amino group also enters the nitrated ring of quinoline derivatives. 

The aza-Diels-Alder reaction of imines with diene of Danishefsky is an important route to 2,3-dihydro-4-pyridones. A number of Lewis acids have been used to catalyze the reaction in organic solvents. In water the reaction was realized by acid catalysis via iminium salts or by Bronsted acids. The montmorillonite K-10 catalyzed this cycloaddition in water or in aqueous acetonitrile in excellent yield. Recently Kobayashi has performed the reaction in water at room temperature under neutral conditions in two (imine - - diene) or three (aldehyde -b amine -b diene) component versions by using sodium triflate as catalyst. Imine intermediates from the indium-mediated reaction, in aqueous medium at 50° C, between aromatic nitro compounds and 2,3-dihydrofuran undergo aza-Diels-Alder cycloadditions to give tetrahydroquinoline derivatives in good overall yields. ... 

Although this reduction is more expensive than the Bnchamp reduction, it is used to manufacture aromatic amines which are too sensitive to be made by other methods. Such processes are used extensively where selectivity is required such as in the preparation of nitro amines from dinitro compounds, the reduction of nitrophenol and nitroanthraquinones, and the preparation of aminoazo compounds from the corresponding nitro derivatives. Amines are also formed under the conditions of the Zinin reduction from aromatic nitroso and azo compounds. 

As discussed in Chapter 6, nitro compounds are converted into amines, oximes, or carbonyl compounds. They serve as useful starting materials for the preparation of various heterocyclic compounds. Especially, five-membered nitrogen heterocycles, such as pyrroles, indoles, and pyrrolidines, are frequently prepared from nitro compounds. Syntheses of heterocyclic compounds using nitro compounds are described partially in Chapters 4, 6 and 9. This chapter focuses on synthesis of hetero-aromatics (mainly pyrroles and indoles) and saturated nitrogen heterocycles such as pyrrolidines and their derivatives. 

The same reaction can be applied, not only to the aromatic parent substances, the hydrocarbons, but also to all their derivatives, such as phenols, amines, aldehydes, acids, and so on. The nitration does not, however, always proceed with the same ease, and therefore the most favourable experimental conditions must be determined for each substance. If a substance is very easily nitrated it may be done with nitric acid sufficiently diluted with water, or else the substance to be nitrated is dissolved in a resistant solvent and is then treated with nitric acid. Glacial acetic acid is frequently used as the solvent. Substances which are less easily nitrated are dissolved in concentrated or fuming nitric acid. If the nitration proceeds with difficulty the elimination of water is facilitated by the addition of concentrated sulphuric acid to ordinary or fuming nitric acid. When nitration is carried out in sulphuric acid solution, potassium or sodium nitrate is sometimes used instead of nitric acid. The methods of nitration described may be still further modified in two ways 1, the temperature or, 2, the amount of nitric acid used, may be varied. Thus nitration can be carried out at the temperature of a freezing mixture, at that of ice, at that of cold water, at a gentle heat, or, finally, at the boiling point. Moreover, we can either employ an excess of nitric acid or the theoretical amount. Small scale preliminary experiments will indicate which of these numerous modifications may be expected to yield the best results. Since nitro-compounds are usually insoluble or sparingly soluble in water they can be precipitated from the nitration mixture by dilution with water. 

Reactions which formally involve the oxidation of azides have been reviewed by Boyer. Other oxidations with useful synthetic applications include two which start from nitrogen ylides. Sulfimides (50) derived from electron-deficient aromatic and heterocyclic amines are oxidized to the corresponding nitroso compounds by MCPBA. - This is a very useful method of preparation of some otherwise inaccessible nitroso compounds such as 2-nitrosopyridine and 1-nitrosoisoquinoline. They can be further oxidized, for example by ozone, to the nitro compounds. Phosphimides (51) are oxidized directly by ozone to the nitro compounds, although the nitroso compounds are intermediates. Isocyanates can also be oxidized to the corresponding nitro compounds, by dimediyldioxiraiK (1). ... 

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