Nitrolysis oxidative

The nitrolysis of tertiary amines in the form of fert-butylamines and methylenediamines has been used to synthesize numerous polynitramine-based energetic materials. In these reactions one of the N-C bonds is cleaved to generate a secondary nitramine and an alcohol the latter is usually 0-nitrated or oxidized under the reaction conditions (Equation 5.15). The ease in which nitrolysis occurs is related to the stability of the expelled alkyl cation. Consequently, the fert-butyl group and the iminium cation from methylenediamines are excellent leaving groups. 

The conversion of a nitrosamine to a nitramine can be affected by either nitrolysis or oxidation. While the results of these two reactions are identical, they are mechanistically very different. For this reason, the oxidation of nitrosamines is discussed separately in Section 5.9. 

The choice of reagent determines whether a nitrosamine undergoes conversion to a nitramine by either nitrolysis or oxidation. An example is given for the conversion of 1,3,5-trinitroso-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane (109) to l,3,5-trinitro-l,3,5-triazacyclohexane (3) (RDX) - the use of 30 % hydrogen peroxide in 99 % nitric acid at subambient temperature goes via oxidation of the nitrosamine functionality, whereas dinitrogen pentoxide in pure nitric acid makes use of a nitrolysis pathway via C-N bond cleavage. 

The nitrolysis of fert-butyl substituted amines with dinitrogen pentoxide in nitric acid solves many of these problems. However, these substrates are not always accessible via the usual condensation routes. The acidic reagents frequently used for these nitrolysis reactions are not always suitable for substrates with acid-sensitive or easily oxidized functionality. 

In this method, first established by Herz and later studied by Hale, hexamine is introduced into fuming nitric acid which has been freed from nitrous acid. The reaction is conducted at 20-30 °C and on completion the reaction mixture is drowned in cold water and the RDX precipitates. The process is, however, very inefficient with some of the methylene and nitrogen groups of the hexamine not used in the formation of RDX. The process of nitrolysis is complex with formaldehyde and some other fragments formed during the reaction undergoing oxidation in the presence of nitric acid. These side-reactions mean that up to eight times the theoretical amount of nitric acid is needed for optimum yields to be attained. 

This method is known as the K-process after its discoverer Koffier. Like method 5.15.1.2 it uses ammonium nitrate to compensate for the nitrogen deficiency in hexamine and works to Equation (5.24) where two moles of RDX are produced per mole of hexamine. As observed with method 5.15.1.2, the addition of ammonium nitrate to nitric acid appears to prevent dangerous oxidation reactions from occurring. In fact, this nitrolysis reaction only occurs at elevated temperature and so a constant temperature of 80 °C is usually maintained throughout the reaction. Yields of approximately 90 % are attainable based on one mole of hexamine producing two moles of RDX. 

Marchand and co-workers reported a synthetic route to TNAZ (18) involving a novel electrophilic addition of NO+ NO2 across the highly strained C(3)-N bond of 3-(bromomethyl)-l-azabicyclo[1.1.0]butane (21), the latter prepared as a nonisolatable intermediate from the reaction of the bromide salt of tris(bromomethyl)methylamine (20) with aqueous sodium hydroxide under reduced pressure. The product of this reaction, A-nitroso-3-bromomethyl-3-nitroazetidine (22), is formed in 10% yield but is also accompanied by A-nitroso-3-bromomethyl-3-hydroxyazetidine as a by-product. Isolation of (22) from this mixture, followed by treatment with a solution of nitric acid in trifluoroacetic anhydride, leads to nitrolysis of the ferf-butyl group and yields (23). Treatment of (23) with sodium bicarbonate and sodium iodide in DMSO leads to hydrolysis of the bromomethyl group and the formation of (24). The synthesis of TNAZ (18) is completed by deformylation of (24), followed by oxidative nitration, both processes achieved in one pot with an alkaline solution of sodium nitrite, potassium ferricyanide and sodium persulfate. This route to TNAZ gives a low overall yield and is not suitable for large scale manufacture. 

Axenrod and co-workers reported a synthesis of TNAZ (18) starting from 3-amino-l,2-propanediol (28). Treatment of (28) with two equivalents of p-toluenesulfonyl chloride in the presence of pyridine yields the ditosylate (29), which on further protection as a TBS derivative, followed by treatment with lithium hydride in THF, induces ring closure to the azetidine (31) in excellent yield. Removal of the TBS protecting group from (31) with acetic acid at elevated temperature is followed by oxidation of the alcohol (32) to the ketone (33). Treatment of the ketone (33) with hydroxylamine hydrochloride in aqueous sodium acetate yields the oxime (34). The synthesis of TNAZ (18) is completed on treatment of the oxime (34) with pure nitric acid in methylene chloride, a reaction leading to oxidation-nitration of the oxime group to em-dinitro functionality and nitrolysis of the A-tosyl bond. This synthesis provides TNAZ in yields of 17-21 % over the seven steps. 

Tetranitrohexahydropyrimidine (DNNC) (94) has been synthesized from the nitrolysis of the A(iV -di-fert-butylpyrimidine (93). Levins and co-workers reported the synthesis of DNNC (94) from the nitrolysis of the analogous A. V -di-wo-propylpyrimidine (92). DNNC is a high performance explosive with a detonation velocity of 8730 m/s, impact sensitivity lower than RDX and a very favourable oxygen balance. DNNC has been suggested " for use as an oxidizer in propellant compositions. This is also considered as an excellent oxidant for pyrotechnic compositions. ... 

At present there are four good methods for preparing secondary nitramines. They are the oxidation of nitrosamines by peroxytrifluoro-acetic acid (5), the chloride-ion catalyzed direct nitration of amines (3), the nitrolysis of dialkylamides with nitric acid (16), and the alkaline nitration of amines with acetone cyanohydrin nitrate (6). We have found that treating two equivalents of several secondary aliphatic amines... 

Axenrod, T., Watnick, C., and Yazdekhasti, H. 1995. Synthesis of 1,3,3-trinitroazetidine via the oxidative nitrolysis of A-p-tosyl-3-azetidinone oxime. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 60(7) 1959-64. 

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