The Synthesis and Application of Novel Nitrating and Nitrosating Agents

Alcohols and phenols are efficiently nitrated with thionyl chloride nitrate or thionyl nitrate, even in the presence of an aromatic moiety. While thionyl chloride nitrate is suitable for nitration of primary OH-groups in carbohydrates, thionyl nitrate is reactive enough to react with secondary OH-groups as well. These reagents permit the highly selective nitration of the 5′-,2′5′- and 3′, 5′-OH-groups of ribonucleosides to produce either mono-or diprotected nitro derivatives in high yields. Carbon acids and the enol form of some ketones are efficiently nitrated with trifluoromethanesulfonyl nitrate/potassium tert-butoxide. Lutidine N-oxide (2,6-(CH3)2C5H3N O) was found to have a marked effect on nitration reactions. Similarly, thionyl chloride nitrite and thionyl nitrite exhibit an excellent capacity for nitrosation of the aforementioned substrates.