Pentane, 2,2,4-trimethyl-4-nitro

A solution of 25.8 g. (0.20 mole) of 4-amino-2,2,4-trimethyl-pentane (ierf-octylamine) (Note 1) in 500 ml. of C.P. acetone is placed in a 1-1. three-necked flask equipped with a Tru-Bore stirrer and a thermometer and is diluted with a solution of 30 g. of magnesium sulfate (Note 2) in 125 ml. of water. Potassium permanganate (190 g., 1.20 moles) is added to the well-stirred reaction mixture in small portions over a period of about 30 minutes (Note 3). During the addition the temperature of the mixture is maintained at 25-30° (Note 4), and the mixture is stirred for an additional 48 hours at this same temperature (Note 5). The reaction mixture is stirred under water-aspirator vacuum at an internal temperature of about 30° until most of the acetone is removed (Note 6). The resulting viscous mixture is steam-distilled approximately 500 ml. of water and a pale-blue organic layer are collected. The distillate is extracted with pentane, the extract is dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and the pentane is removed by distillation at atmospheric pressure. The residue is distilled through a column (Note 7) at reduced pressure to give 22-26 g. (69-82%) of colorless 4-nitro-2,2,4-trimethylpentane, b.p. 53-5473 mm., < 1.4314, m.p. 23.5-23.7°. 

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