Nitro compounds, reaction with isocyanates

Reductive carbonylation of nitro compounds is catalyzed by various Pd catalysts. Phenyl isocyanate (93) is produced by the PdCl2-catalyzed reductive carbonylation (deoxygenation) of nitrobenzene with CO, probably via nitrene formation. Extensive studies have been carried out to develop the phosgene-free commercial process for phenyl isocyanate production from nitroben-zene[76]. Effects of various additives such as phenanthroline have been stu-died[77-79]. The co-catalysts of montmorillonite-bipyridylpalladium acetate and Ru3(CO) 2 are used for the reductive carbonylation oLnitroarenes[80,81]. Extensive studies on the reaction in alcohol to form the A -phenylurethane 94 have also been carried out[82-87]. Reaction of nitrobenzene with CO in the presence of aniline affords diphenylurea (95)[88]. 

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). 

The standard reaction sequence for transformation of a carboxylic acid into a nitro group is lengthy. Eaton has shortened this conversion via oxidation of isocyanates to nitro compounds with dimethyldioxirane in wet acetone (Eq. 2.71).140... 

Isocyanates and isothiocyanates are reduced to methylamines on treatment with LiAlH4. LiAIH4 does not usually reduce azo compounds622 (indeed these are the products from LiAIH4 reduction of nitro compounds, 9-67), but these can be reduced to hydrazo compounds by catalytic hydrogenation or with diimide623 (see 5-9). Diazonium salts are reduced to hydrazines by sodium sulfite. This reaction probably has a nucleophilic mechanism.624... 

Quite independently of Cornforth s efforts, a similar approach was designed and executed by Stevens and coworkers (75JA5940, 76T1599). The isoxazoles were synthesized by one of the three routes outlined in Scheme 25, in which primary nitro compounds are transformed into nitrile oxides by dehydration with either phosphoryl chloride or phenyl isocyanate, or else the same oxides were formed by dehydrogenation with LTA (syn product) or NBS (syn and anti). Reaction of the unstable nitrile oxides in situ with an appropriately substituted alkyne then afforded the isoxazole (294). 

Metal-bound isocyanates give similar results to nitrosyl compounds.363,367 Starting with [Ru4(NCO)(CO)13] , one can obtain [Ru4(CO)i2N] in 78% yield upon thermolysis. Treatment of [Ru2(CO)r(NCO)] (x = 10,11) with Ru3(CO),2 leads to the hexanuclear nitride [Ru6(CO)i6N] in 82% yield. Organic nitroso and nitro can be similarly reduced by metal carbonyls or carbonylate anions. These reactions are discussed in the later section on reactions with organic substrates. 

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). ... 

The reaction of nitrile oxides prepared in situ by dehydration of aliphatic nitro compounds with triethylamine and phenyl isocyanate with allylic alcohols proceeds with low stereocontrol to give a predominance of the /-product. Allyl ethers as the dipolarophiles can lead to high excesses of the y-cycloadducts, with the stereoselection increasing with increasing bulkiness of the alkyl residue at the stereocenter. 

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