Nitroalkanes nitromethane

Nitroalkanes nitromethane, nitroethane and nitropropanes were examined by Collin [134]. 

The observation of the unusual inverse order of kinetic and thermodynamic acidities of the simple nitroalkanes (nitromethane = NM, nitroethane = NE, and 2-nitropropane = 2-NP) during their reactions... 

The reaction between K[HFe(CO)4] and aromatic nitroarenes proceeds vigorously and exothermally in alcohols at room temperature to give the corresponding aromatic amines in excellent yields [7]. The reaction is not catalytic and is not affected by the reaction atmosphere (Ar or CO). Even in this case, 2-nitrobiphenyl gave 2-aminobiphenyl, but no carbazole. Even a nitroalkane, nitromethane, has been reported to be reduced by [HFe(CO)4] to methylamine [8]. 

The nitroparaffins are excellent solvents for various resins and polymer compositions in the coating industry. Few solvents have the high polarity character and low hydrogen bonding values shown by the nitroalkanes. Nitromethane is the... 

There exist a number of d -synthons, which are stabilized by the delocalization of the electron pair into orbitals of hetero atoms, although the nucleophilic centre remains at the carbon atom. From nitroalkanes anions may be formed in aqueous solutions (e.g. CHjNOj pK, = 10.2). Nitromethane and -ethane anions are particularly useful in synthesis. The cyanide anion is also a classical d -synthon (HCN pK = 9.1). 

Simple ketones and esters are inert. On the other hand, nitroalkanes react smoothly in r-butyl alcohol as a solvent with butadiene, and their acidic hydrogens are displaced with the octadienyl group. From nitromethane, three products, 64, 65, and 66, are formed, accompanied by 3-substituted 1,7-octadiene as a minor product. Hydrogenation of 65 affords a fatty amine 67 which has a primary amino function at the center of the long linear chain[46,61]. 

Nitromethane is the most reactive nitroalkane that favors strong reaction to the tris adduct (see Nitroalcohols). 

Reaction of various pyridazine derivatives with nitromethane or nitroethane in DMSO affords the corresponding 5-methyl and 5-ethyl derivatives. The reaction proceeds as a nucleophilic attack of the nitroalkane at the position 5. In this way, 3,6-dichloro-4-cyano-pyridazine, 4-carboxy- and 4-ethoxycarbonyl-pyridazin-3(2//)-ones and 4-carboxy- and 4-ethoxycarbonyl-pyridazin-6(lH)-ones can be alkylated at position 5 (77CPB1856). 

Nitroalkanes show a related relationship between kinetic acidity and thermodynamic acidity. Additional alkyl substituents on nitromethane retard the rate of proton removal although the equilibrium is more favorable for the more highly substituted derivatives. The alkyl groups have a strong stabilizing effect on the nitronate ion, but unfavorable steric effects are dominant at the transition state for proton removal. As a result, kinetic and thermodynamic acidity show opposite responses to alkyl substitution. 

Proazaphosphao-ane, PrRNCH-,CH-j,N, is an efficient catalyst for the Henty reacdon, and arious ketones give nitro-aldols by the reacdon with nitromethane and other nitroalkanes fEq. 

Although acyl imidazoles can be replaced by phenyl esters in some cases," acyl imidazoles are more effecdve for the acyladon of nitroalkanes A combinadon of diethyl phosphorcyani-dates and triethylamime allows the direct C-acyladon of nitromethane by aromadc carboxylic... 

Although the base-catalyzed addition of nitroalkanes to electron-deficient olefins has been extensively used in organic synthesis fsee Michael addition Chapter 4, it is only recently that the reaction has been extended to the cyclopropanadon reaction. In 1978, it was reported that the anion of nitromethane reacts with certain highly electron-deficient olefins to produce cycloptopanesingoodyieldrEq. 7.36. More recently, this reaction has been extended to more general cyclopropanadons, as shown in Eqs. 7.37 and 7.38, in which potassittm salts of nitroalkanes are employed in DMSO as alkylidene transfer reagents." ... 

A proof for the formation of alkyl radicals was found by their addition to the aci-nitromethane anion (CH2=N02 ) and by their reaction with p-benzoquinone to give the optically active nitroalkane radical-anion and the semiquinone radicals, respectively. In the case of di-r-butyl sulfoxide the f-butyl radical was observed directly by its absorption spectra. 

The condensation of nitro compounds and imines, the so-called aza-Henry or nitro-Mannich reaction, has recently emerged as a powerful tool for the enantioselective synthesis of 1,2-diamines through the intermediate /3-amino nitro compounds. The method is based on the addition of a nitronate ion (a-nitro carbanion), generated from nitroalkanes, to an imine. The addition of a nitronate ion to an imine is thermodynamically disfavored, so that the presence of a protic species or a Lewis acid is required, to activate the imine and/or to quench the adduct. The acidic medium is compatible with the existence of the nitronate anion, as acetic acid and nitromethane have comparable acidities. Moreover, the products are often unstable, either for the reversibility of the addition or for the possible /3-elimination of the nitro group, and the crude products are generally reduced, avoiding purification to give the desired 1,2-diamines. Hence, the nitronate ion is an equivalent of an a-amino carbanion. 

In recent years, there has been increased recognition that water is an attractive medium for organic reactions from the environmental point of view. The Michael addition of various nitroalkanes to conjugated enones can be performed in NaOH (0.025 M) and in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC1) as cationic surfactant in the absence of organic solvents (Eq. 4.109).146 The Michael addition of nitromethane to methyl acrylate is carried out in water using NaOH as a base to give the mono adduct (Table 4.2).147... 

The reactivity of carbon is much enhanced by the double deprotonated intermediates of nitro compounds. Except for nitromethane, other nitroalkanes are alkylated to give the C-alkylated products in 50-60% yield by this procedure (see Eq. 5.4).9 10... 

Asymmetric synthesis of tricyclic nitro ergoline synthon (up to 70% ee) is accomplished by intramolecular cyclization of nitro compound Pd(0)-catalyzed complexes with classical C2 symmetry diphosphanes.94 Palladium complexes of 4,5-dihydrooxazoles are better chiral ligands to promote asymmetric allylic alkylation than classical catalysts. For example, allylic substitution with nitromethane gives enantioselectivity exceeding 99% ee (Eq. 5.62).95 Phosphi-noxazolines can induce very high enatioselectivity in other transition metal-catalyzed reactions.96 Diastereo- and enantioselective allylation of substituted nitroalkanes has also been reported.9513... 

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