Nitric Acid → 2,2,2-Trifluoro-N-[2-(4-methoxy-3-nitrophenyl)ethyl]acetamide

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a solution of 30 g (0.121 mole) of the amide in 254 ml of trifluoroacetic acid at 0° under an argon atmosphere was added dropwise with stirring a solution of 7.5 ml (0.12 mole) of conc. nitric acid in 56 ml of trifluoroacetic acid. The reaction mixture was stirred at 0° for 1/2 hour and at room temperature for 2 hours. The solvents were evaporated. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate which was extracted with 5% hydrochloric acid, dilute sodium bicarbonate solution and brine, then dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and activated charcoal. After filtering, the solvents were removed to give 34.8 g (98%) of crude (2-trifluoroacetamidoethyl)-3-nitro-4-methoxybenzene which was an amber-colored solid. This material was recrystallized from 400 ml of 1:3 ethyl acetatehexane to give 25.3 g (71.5%) of the product, m.p. 92.5°-93.0°. The mother liquors were concentrated and recrystallized to give a second crop, 4.59 g (13 %), m.p. 90°-92° C.

Provenance & Evidence