Nitroalkenes decomposition

Some 1,3-dinitroalkanes (145) have been synthesized from the reaction of nitroalkanes with a-nitroalkenes (144) generated in situ from the decomposition of Mannich bases (143) derived from primary nitroalkanes. Reported yields for these reactions are low and the formation of by-products limits the feasibility of the method. 

The thermal or photochemical decompositions of nitroalkenes have not been examined a recent analysis of the uv spectrum and electronic structure of nitroethylene suggests some very interesting aspects of photochemical reactions. 

---