Oxidative Nitration of Styrenes for the Recycling of Low-Concentrated Nitrogen Dioxide in Air

Infrared spectroscopic and thermographic evidence for the interaction of ethylene and 1,3-butadiene with N2O4 at cryogenic temperatures

The possibility of the reaction of ethylene at cryogenic temperatures with dinitrogen tetroxide (N2O4), at least at -40 °C, has been demonstrated. An infrared (IR) spectroscopic analysis of the condensed reaction products was carried out, which showed the presence of substances containing organic nitro compounds and organic nitrates. The latter particularly means the possibility of the formation of explosive substances, as in the known explosive cryogenic reaction of N2O4 with butadiene. The fundamental possibility of such a reaction is of importance for the organization of cryogenic production of gases from raw materials containing ethylene and nitrogen oxide impurities. The sensitivity of the experimental setup was demonstrated by using the example of the known reaction of N2O4 with butadiene. The temperature and time characteristics of the latter reaction have been found. To determine the temperature range of possible reactions of ethylene with N2O4, thermograms of the process of heating the reactive mixture at a constant rate were analyzed. To ensure the sensitivity of the qualitative analysis of thermograms of the reaction of ethylene with N2O4 in the linear heating mode, a quasi-differential method was proposed that uses the temperature of the cryo-thermostat coolant, which varies linearly with time, as the reference temperature. Some recently published theoretical results concerning the mechanisms of N2O4 isomerization are discussed which may be useful for further studies in establishing the mechanisms and predicting the ratios of the products and their yields for the reaction of N2O4 with olefins under particular experimental conditions.

Cleavage of Organosolv Lignin to Phenols Using Nitrogen Monoxide and Hydrazine

From the variety of methods known for the depolymerization of organosolv lignin, a broad range of diversely substituted aromatic compounds are available today. In the present work, a novel two-step reaction sequence is reported, which is focused on the formation of phenols. While the first step of the depolymerization strategy comprises the 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ)-catalyzed oxidation of organosolv lignin with nitrogen monoxide so that two waste materials are combined, cleavage to the phenolic target compounds is achieved in the second step employing hydrazine and potassium hydroxide under Wolff-Kishner-type conditions. Besides the fact that the novel strategy proceeds via an untypical form of oxidized organosolv lignin, the two-step sequence is further able to provide phenols as cleavage products, which bear no substituent at the 4-position.

Visible-Light-Induced Intermolecular Oxyimination of Alkenes

An intermolecular vicinal O-N difunctionalization reaction of olefins with oxime esters through energy transfer catalysis has been developed.

One-pot method for the synthesis of 1-aryl-2-aminoalkanol derivatives from the corresponding amides or nitriles

We have identified a novel one-pot method for the synthesis of β-amino alcohols, which is based on C–H bond hydroxylation at the benzylic α-carbon atom with a subsequent nitrile or amide functional group reduction. This cascade process uses molecular oxygen as an oxidant and sodium bis(2-methoxyethoxy)aluminum hydride as a reductant. The substrate scope was examined on 30 entries and, although the respective products were provided in moderate yields only, the above simple protocol may serve as a direct and powerful entry to the sterically congested 1,2-amino alcohols that are difficult to prepare by other routes. The plausible mechanistic rationale for the observed results is given and the reaction was applied to a synthesis of a potentially bioactive target.

A one-pot method for β-amino alcohol synthesis based on α-hydroxylation and subsequent amide or nitrile functional group reduction has been identified and examined.

Nitrogen Oxides and Nitric Acid Enable the Sustainable Hydroxylation and Nitrohydroxylation of Benzenes under Visible Light Irradiation

A new type of waste recycling strategy is described in which nitrogen oxides or nitric acid are directly employed in photocatalyzed hydroxylations and nitrohydroxylations of benzenes. Through these transformations, otherwise costly denitrification can be combined with the synthesis of valuable compounds for various applications.

Sustainable Synthesis of Balsalazide and Sulfasalazine Based on Diazotization with Low Concentrations of Nitrogen Dioxide in Air

Low concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, which arises as a side product from a range of industrial processes, can effectively be recycled through the diazotization of anilines. The studies reported herein now demonstrate that the removal of nitrogen dioxide from gas streams is even more effective when hydrophilic anilines are used as starting materials. The diazonium salts, which are obtained in this way in up to quantitative yields, can directly be employed in azo coupling reactions, thus opening up an attractive route to the industrially important group of azo compounds.