Nitroethane → 1-Methanesulfonyl-4-(2-nitro-propenyl)-2-trifluoromethyl-benzene

A stirred mixture of 4-methanesulfonyl-3-trifluoromethyl-benzaldehyde (Example 5001a) (12 g, 47 mmol), nitroethane (27.5 ml, 380 mol) and ammonium acetate (1.22 g, 16 mmol) is heated at reflux under argon for 18 hours. The mixture is concentrated to give an oil which is dissolved in dichloromethane (200 ml) and washed with water (3×200 ml), followed by brine (200 ml). The organic extract is dried (MgSO4), filtered and the solvent removed to give the product as red oil. This is used immediately in the next step.