Nitromethane → 5-(2-Nitroethenyl)-1,3-benzodioxole

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

To piperonal (15.55 kg, 103.5 mol) under mechanical stirring and under nitrogen was added ammonium acetate (13.4 kg, 173.8 mol), acetic acid (45.2 kg), and nitromethane (18.4 kg, 301.4 mol) sequentially. The mixture was warmed to 70° C. After about 30 minutes, the yellow product began to crystallize. The reaction temperature was raised to 80° C. and stirred for about 10 hours until minimal piperonal remains. The somewhat thick reaction mixture was cooled to 10° C. and filtered. The precipitate was washed with acetic acid (2×8 kg) and then water (2×90 kg). The product was dried under a nitrogen purge and then in a vacuum oven at 50° C. for 2 days to afford 15.94 kg (80%) of the title compound as a bright yellow solid.

Provenance & Evidence