Nitrogen dioxide reaction with oximes

The Ponzio reaction provides a useful route to gem-dinitro compounds and involves treating oximes with a solution of nitrogen dioxide or its dimer in diethyl ether or a chlorinated solvent. The Ponzio reaction works best for aromatic oximes where the synthesis of many substituted aryldinitromethanes have been reported. Compound (56), an isomer of TNT, is formed from the reaction of dinitrogen tetroxide with the oxime of benzaldehyde (55) followed by mononitration of the aromatic ring with mixed acid. Yields are usually much lower for aliphatic aldoximes and ketoximes. " The parent carbonyl compound of the oxime is usually the major by-product in these reactions. 

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