Methyl 5-nitro-3-thiophenecarboxylate

The position of substitution in disubstituted thiophenes can, in most cases, easily be deduced from the directing effect of each substituent. Thus with a - -M-substituent in the 2-position and a —M-substituent in the 5-position, both substituents direct the entering group to the 3-position as is exemplified by the nitration of methyl 2-bromo-5-thiophenecarboxylate to methyl 2-bromo-3-nitro-5-thio-phenecarboxylate (109) or in the chlororaethylation of methyl 2-methyl-5-thiophenecarboxylate to methyl 2-methyl-3-chloromethyl-5-thiophenecarboxylate (110). °... 

Optical activity owing to restricted rotation (atropisomerism) has been demonstrated in two phenylthiophenes 2-(6-methyl-2-nitro-phenyI)-3-thiophenecarboxylic acid (41), which rapidly racemized in solution, and 2,5-dimethyl-4- (6 -methyl-2 -nitrophenyl) 3-thio-phenecarboxylic acid (42), which was optically stable (at room temperature). Recently the first bithienyl, 2,2 -dicarboxy-4,4 -dibromo-5,5 -dimethyl-3,3 -bithienyl (43), has been resolved into optical anti-podes which were optically stable. 

Finally, certain 3-substituted compounds can be prepared by utilizing the - meta) directing powet (cf. Section IV,B) of some groups in the 2-position which afterward can be removed. 3-Nitrothiophene is prepared by nitration of 2-thiophenesulfonyl chloride and by removal of the sulfonic acid group of the 4-nitro-2-sulfonyl chloride formed with superheated steam. Another approach to 3-nitrothio-phene is to nitrate 2-cyanothiophene, separate the 4-nitro-2-cyano-thiophene from the 5-isomer, hydrolyze, and decarboxylate. A final method of preparation of 3-nitrothiophene is by simultaneous de-bromination and decarboxylation of 5-bromo-4-nitro-2-thiophene-carboxylic acid obtained through the nitration of methyl 5-bromo-2-thiophenecarboxylate. 

Archer, owing to very unfortunate coincidences, had mistaken acid potassium tartrate for the acetylamino acid. Goldfarb et al. prepared authentic 5-acetylamino-2-thiophenecarboxylic acid, mp 230 232°C (methyl ester, mp 171-171.5°C ethyl ester, mp 161°C), through reduction of 5-nitro-2-thiophenecarboxylic acid with Raney nickel in acetic anhydride and proved the structure by Raney nickel desulfurization to 8-aminovaleric acid. They also confirmed that the acid mp 272-273°C (methyl ester, mp 135-136°C ethyl ester, mp 116-117°C) is 4-acetylamino-2-thiophenecar boxy lie acid as originally stated by Steinkopf and Miiller. The statement of Tirouflet and Chane that the acid obtained upon reduction and acetylation of 5-nitro-2-thiophenecarboxylic acid melts at 272°C must result from some mistake as they give the correct melting point for the methyl ester. 

Raney-Ni added at 45 to a stirred soln. of 4-nitro-5-isobutyl-2-thiophene-carboxylic acid in aq. NHg whereupon the temp, rises to 60 , then the temp, allowed to fall to 45 , finally stirred 4 hrs. at 60-65 4-amino-7-methyl-caprylic acid. Y 84%.—In acetic anhydride, no desulfuration occurs and moderate yields of 4-acetylamino-2-thiophenecarboxylic acids are obtained. F. e. s. Y. L. Gol dfarb, B. P. Fabrichnyi, and I. F. Shalavina, 29, 3636 (1959) C. A. 54, 19638h. 

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