Nitro compounds nitroalkanes, nitroalkenes

The conversion of primary or secondary nitro compounds into aldehydes or ketones is normally accomplished by use of the Nef reaction, which is one of the most important transformations of nitro compounds. Various methods have been introduced forthis transformation (1) treatment of nitronates with acid, (2) oxidation of nitronates, and (3) reduction of nitroalkenes. Although a comprehensive review is available,3 important procedures and improved methods published after this review are presented in this chapter. The Nef reaction after the nitro-aldol (Henry reaction), Michael addition, or Diels-Alder reaction using nitroalkanes or nitroalkenes has been used extensively in organic synthesis of various substrates, including complicated natural products. Some of them are presented in this chapter other examples are presented in the chapters discussing the Henry reaction (Chapter 3), Michael addition (Chapter 4), and Diels-Alder reaction (Chapter 8). 

Nitroalkanols are intermediate compounds that are used extensively in many important syntheses 142). They can be converted by hydrogenation into / -aminoalcohols, which are intermediates for pharmacologically important chemicals such as chloroamphenicol and ephedrine. They are obtained by Henry s reaction by the condensation of nitroalkanes with aldehydes. The classical method for this transformation involves the use of bases such as alkali metal hydroxides, alkoxides, Ba(OH)2, amines, etc. 142-144). However, these catalysts give predominantly dehydrated products—nitroalkenes— which are susceptible to polymerization (Scheme 16). The reaction proceeds by the nucleophilic addition of the carbanion formed by the abstraction of a proton from the nitro compound to the carbon atom of the carbonyl group, finally forming the nitroaldol by abstraction of a proton from the catalyst. 

N—NITRO COMPOUNDS C-NITRO COMPOUNDS NITROACYL HALIDES NITROALKANES NITROALKENES... 

Reduction of nitroalkenes. Vinyl nitro compounds are reduced to saturated ketones or aldehydes by Raney nickel and an aqueous solution of sodium hypophosphite. Ester groups, C=C bonds, and aryl NO, and halo groups are not reduced. Under these conditions nitroalkanes arc reduced to amines, and oximes are converted into carbonyl compounds in high yield. 

Nitroalkanes have also been synthesized from nitroalkenes/ amines/ or bromides and by selective additions of nitro-compounds to methylenemalonate... 

A-Containing Heterocycles. Nitroalkenes were reacted with TBDMSCI and DBU to afford A-silyloxyisoazoUdines through the intramolecular olefin cycloadditions of the nitronate intermediates. Only one diastereomer with three new consecutive stereogenic centers was isolated in good to excellent yield. Desi-lylation with TBAF and further spontaneous aerobic oxidation furnished the hydroxymethyl nitro compounds (eq 50). 1-Bromo-nitroalkanes, on the contrary, when treated with TBDMSCI and TEA, underwent the same cycloaddition reaction to produce the nitronates after in situ elimination of TBDMSBr (eq 51). ... 

The Michael addition of nitroalkanes to nitroalkenes is catalyzed by triethylamine to give 1,3-dinitro compounds (Eq. 4.45).60 In some cases, the intramolecular displacement of the nitro group takes place to give cyclic nitronates (Eq. 4.46).61... 

A review appeared on the determination of nitroalkanes, polynitroalkanes, nitroalkenes, aromatic nitro and polynitro compounds, heterocyclic nitro derivatives and inactive compounds after nitration, by polarography, voltammetry and HPLC with electrochemical detection441. 

Oxidation of nitrogenous compounds. Both ketoximes and secondary nitro-alkanes are oxidized to ketones. Aldoximes are converted to nitroalkanes, but nitriles are formed under different conditions. In the presence of a chlorine source (NaCl, HQ) ketoximes give a-chloronitroaUcanes and nitroalkenes give the a-chlorinated products. ... 

The Henry reaction is a base-catalyzed C-C bond-forming reaction between nitroalkanes and aldehydes or ketones. It is similar to the aldol addition, and is also referred to as the nitroaldol reaction. Since its discovery in 1895 [1] the Henry reaction has become one of the most useful reactions for the formation of C-C bonds, and most particularly for the synthesis of P-nitroalcohol derivatives [2]. The general features of this reaction are (i) the potential offered by the nitro and hydroxyl groups on the products for transformation into other compound families such as P-amino alcohols, P-amino acids, or nitroalkenes (ii) only a catalytic amount of base is required (iii) up to two contiguous stereogenic centers may be created in a single step concomitantly to the C-C bond formation. Several recent reviews with a focus on the asymmetric Henry reaction and its applications have appeared [3j. 

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