Aromatic amines formation from nitro compounds

There is no difference in the ability of photogeneration of radicals between systems that show photosubstitution and systems that do not, for example amines with 3,5-dinitroanisole and m-dinitro-benzene, respectively. This indicates that the formation of radicals from excited aromatic nitro-compounds in the presence of nucleophiles has no direct relation with the photosubstitution reaction. 

On treatment of certain other tertiary aromatic amines with nitrous acid, it has been found that either C-nitroso compounds, nuclear nitro compounds, or jV-nitrosoamines are formed with loss of an alkyl group. In the case of the nitrodimethylanilines, the latter two types of reaction may occur. The formation of nitro-jV-nitrosomethylanilines predominate at room temperature, whereas the formation of polynitro compounds predominates at more elevated temperatures. The formation of nitrosoamines from iVW-dimethylanilines appears to be particularly favored when both ortho positions are occupied by nitro groups, although /V-nitroso compounds were also obtainable from other nitrodimethylanilines. The product of the reaction, of course, is an /V-nitroso secondary amine. 

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... 

Aromatic amines, like phenols, are very easily nitrated. However, primary and secondary amines in particular readily undergo oxidative side reactions, so that it is advisable to protect the amino group by acylation or by conversion by an aldehyde into the Schiff base. Even using a large excess of sulfuric acid protects the amino group to a considerable extent, owing to formation of the ammonium salt, but then entry of the nitro group is directed to a considerable extent into the meta-position. The usual A-acyl derivative is the acetyl compound, but benzoyl, /7-toluenesulfonyl, oxalyl, ethoxycarbonyl (from chloro-formic ester), and phthaloyl derivatives are also used. 

Various reduced forms of nitrogen, including amines, amides, N-alkylhydroxylamines, oximes, hydroxamic acids and aromatic nitro compounds, serve as substrates for nitrite, but not for nitrate, formation by various individual organisms (Doxtader and Alexander, 1966). Nitrite yields varied from a few to 190 p.p.m. Cell extracts of a Fusarium were able to convert an oxime into nitrite. 

Sulfoxidation. Heteroatom oxidation catalyzed by (halo)peroxidases has been observed in a variety of organic compounds. Ai-Oxidation in amines, for instance, can lead to the formation of the corresponding aliphatic A-oxides or aromatic nitroso or nitro compounds. From a preparative standpoint, however, sulfoxidation of thioethers is of greater importance since it was shown to proceed in a highly stereo- and enantioselective fashion. Moreover, depending on the source of the haloperoxidase, chiral sulfoxides of opposite configuration could be obtained (Scheme 2.179). 

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