Reduction aromatic nitro compounds

Nitro compounds, aromatic, reductive cyclization with triethyl phosphite, 48, 115... 

Hydroxylamines can be synthesized from various aliphatic and aromatic nitro compounds by reduction with metals and other one-electron donors, with complex hydrides and other two-electron donors, and by hydrogenation. In all cases the reduction proceeds stepwise and, depending on reaction conditions, can provide both amines and hydroxylamines. 

With some reducing agents, especially with aromatic nitro compounds, the reduction can be stopped at an intermediate stage, and hydroxylamines (9-49), hydrazobenzenes (9-68). 

For characterisation of aliphatic nitro compounds by reduction see details under aromatic nitro compounds, Section 9.5.3, p. 1227. 

Wardman P, Dennis MF, Everett SA, Patel KB, Stratford MRL, Tracy M (2003) Radicals from one-electron reduction of nitro compounds, aromatic N-oxides and quinones the kinetic basis for hypoxia-selective, bioreductive drugs. Biochem Soc Symp 61 171-194 Warman JM, de Haas MP, Hummel A, van Lith D, VerberneJB, Loman H (1980) A pulse radiolysis conductivity study of frozen aqueous solutions of DNA. Int J Radiat Biol 38 459-459 Warman JM, de Haas MP, Rupprecht A (1996) DNA a molecular wire Chem Phys Lett 249 319-322 Warters RL, Lyons BW (1992) Variation in radiation-induced formation of DNA double-strand breaks as a function of chromatin structure. Radiat Res 130 309-318 Warters RL, Hofer KG, Harris CR, Smith JM (1977) Radionuclide toxicity in cultured mammalian cells Elucidation of the primary site of radiation damage. Curr Top Radiat Res Q 12 389-407 Weiland B, Huttermann J (1998) Free radicals from X-irradiated, dry and hydrated lyophilized DNA as studies by electron spin resonance spectroscopy analysis of spectral components between 77 K and room temperature. Int J Radiat Biol 74 341-358 Weinfeld M, Soderlind K-JM (1991) 32P-Postlabeling detection of radiation-induced DNA-damage identification and estimation of thymine glycols and phosphoglycolate termini. Biochemistry 30 1091-1097... 

With some reducing agents, especially with aromatic nitro compounds, the reduction can be stopped at an intermediate stage, and hydroxylamines (19-46), hydrazobenzenes, azobenzenes (19-80), and azoxybenzenes (19-79) can be obtained in this manner. However, nitroso compounds, which are often postulated as intermediates, are too reactive to be isolated, if indeed they are intermediates. Reduction by metals in mineral acids cannot be stopped, but always produces the amine. 

For direct introduction of iodine into the nucleus of aromatic hydrocarbons, usually only the most energetic of the methods mentioned on page 152 are useful. Iodination by iodine and HN03 (d 1.5)410 is strongly exothermic and useful for benzene and alkylbenzenes, but phenols and nitrocompounds are formed as by-products the phenols can be removed by shaking the crude product with 10% sodium hydroxide solution, and the nitro compounds by reduction of the crude product with iron filings and hydrochloric acid then the crude solution is made acid to Congo Red and the iodinated aromatic compound is distilled off in steam. 

Reduction of aromatic nitro compounds. Aromatic nitro compounds can be reduced to amines by hydrazine in the presence of ferric chloride and an active carbon. The reaction is carried out in refluxing methanol or ethanol (5-26 hr.). Yields are usually greater than 90%. ... 

Transfer hydrogenation of aromatic nitro compounds. Aromatic nitro compounds are reduced to anilines when refluxed in excess cyclohexene in the presence of ordinary commerical 10% Pd/C catalyst. The method is very useful for selective reduction of polynitrobenzenes. Halogen, if present, is eliminated. Cyclohexene is superior to cyclohexa-1,3-diene as hydrogen donor. The reaction is usually successful, but slower, with sulfur-containing substrates. 4-Methoxy-2,5-dinitroanisole is reduced to 2,5-dimethoxy-4-nitroaniline in 10 min. in the steam bath under these conditions. 

P. Wardman, M.F. Dennis, S.A. Everett, K.B. Patel, M.R.L. Stratford and M. Tracy, Radicals from one-electron reduction of nitro compounds, aromatic Af-oxides, and quinones the kinetic basis for hypoxia-selective, bioreductive drags, in Free Radicals and Oxidative Stress Environment, Drags and Food Additives (Biochemical Society Symposium No. 61), C. Rice-Evans, B. Halliwell and G.G. Lunt (eds.), Portland Press, London, 1995, p. 171. 

Af-oxides back to the amine (see Fig. 31.25). The same is true for aromatic nitro compounds, aromatic nitroso compounds and hydroxylamines, and imines and oximes, which can ultimately be reduced to primary amines. Azo and azoxy compounds can be reduced to hydrazines. An important pathway of hydrazines is their reductive cleavage to primary amines. A toxicologically significant pathway thus exists for the reduction of some aromatic azo compounds to potentially toxic prUnary aromatic amines. 

C. A typical aromatic amine. Best prepared by the prolonged action of concentrated ammonia solution at a high temperature upon anthraquinone-l-sulphonic acid in the presence of BaClj and by reduction of the corresponding nitro compound or by amination of the chloroanthraquinone. 

The alkaline reduction of an aromatic nitro-compound to give the azoxy... 

It should be noted that only representative substances are indicated in the above list. Substituted derivatives of the compounds in most classes may be encountered, e.g., nitrobenzoic acid in the aromatic carboxylic acids (p. 347). This acid will contain CH(0)N, but the salient properties are still those of a carboxylic acid, CH(0), Section 14, although the properties of an aromatic nitro-compound (e.g.y reduction to an amino-compound) will also be evident. 

The imides, primaiy and secondary nitro compounds, oximes and sulphon amides of Solubility Group III are weakly acidic nitrogen compounds they cannot be titrated satisfactorily with a standard alkaU nor do they exhibit the reactions characteristic of phenols. The neutral nitrogen compounds of Solubility Group VII include tertiary nitro compounds amides (simple and substituted) derivatives of aldehydes and ketones (hydrazones, semlcarb-azones, ete.) nitriles nitroso, azo, hydrazo and other Intermediate reduction products of aromatic nitro compounds. All the above nitrogen compounds, and also the sulphonamides of Solubility Group VII, respond, with few exceptions, to the same classification reactions (reduction and hydrolysis) and hence will be considered together. 

Nitro compounds and their reduction products. Tertiary nitro compounds (these are generally aromatic) are reduced by zinc and ammonium chloride solution to the corresponding hydroxylamines, which may be detected by their reducing action upon an ammoniacal solution of silver nitrate or Tollen s reagent ... 

Formic acid is a good reducing agent in the presence of Pd on carbon as a catalyst. Aromatic nitro compounds are reduced to aniline with formic acid[100]. Selective reduction of one nitro group in 2,4-dinitrotoluene (112) with triethylammonium formate is possible[101]. o-Nitroacetophenone (113) is first reduced to o-aminoacetophenone, then to o-ethylaniline when an excess of formate is used[102]. Ammonium and potassium formate are also used for the reduction of aliphatic and aromatic nitro compounds. Pd on carbon is a good catalyst[103,104]. NaBH4 is also used for the Pd-catalyzed reduction of nitro compounds 105]. However, the ,/)-unsaturated nitroalkene 114 is partially reduced to the oxime 115 with ammonium formate[106]... 

Reduction of aryl nitro compounds (Sec tion 22 9) The standard method for the preparation of an arylamine is by nitra tion of an aromatic ring followed by reduction of the nitro group Typical re ducing agents include iron or tin in hydro chloric acid or catalytic hydro genation... 

Attempts have been made to develop methods for the production of aromatic isocyanates without the use of phosgene. None of these processes is currently in commercial use. Processes based on the reaction of carbon monoxide with aromatic nitro compounds have been examined extensively (23,27,76). The reductive carbonylation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene [121 -14-2] to toluene 2,4-diaLkylcarbamates is reported to occur in high yield at reaction temperatures of 140—180°C under 6900 kPa (1000 psi) of carbon monoxide. The resultant carbamate product distribution is noted to be a strong function of the alcohol used. Mitsui-Toatsu and Arco have disclosed a two-step reductive carbonylation process based on a cost effective selenium catalyst (22,23). 

Analytical and Test Methods. o-Nitrotoluene can be analyzed for purity and isomer content by infrared spectroscopy with an accuracy of about 1%. -Nitrotoluene content can be estimated by the decomposition of the isomeric toluene diazonium chlorides because the ortho and meta isomers decompose more readily than the para isomer. A colorimetric method for determining the content of the various isomers is based on the color which forms when the mononitrotoluenes are dissolved in sulfuric acid (45). From the absorption of the sulfuric acid solution at 436 and 305 nm, the ortho and para isomer content can be deterrnined, and the meta isomer can be obtained by difference. However, this and other colorimetric methods are subject to possible interferences from other aromatic nitro compounds. A titrimetric method, based on the reduction of the nitro group with titanium(III) sulfate or chloride, can be used to determine mononitrotoluenes (32). Chromatographic methods, eg, gas chromatography or high pressure Hquid chromatography, are well suited for the deterrnination of mononitrotoluenes as well as its individual isomers. Freezing points are used commonly as indicators of purity of the various isomers. 

Aromatic amines can be produced by reduction of the corresponding nitro compound, the ammonolysis of an aromatic haUde or phenol, and by direct amination of the aromatic ring. At present, the catalytic reduction of nitrobenzene is the predominant process for manufacture of aniline. To a smaller extent aniline is also produced by ammonolysis of phenol. 

Zinin Reduction. The method of reducing aromatic nitro compounds with divalent sulfur is known as the Zinin reduction (57). This reaction can be carried out in a basic media using sulfides, polysulfides, or hydrosulfides as the reducing agent. These reactions can be represented as follows when the counter ion is sodium ... 

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. 

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