Formaldehyde → 1-Nitro-2-phenylethane

Participants

Reaction Steps

In a 500 mL round-bottom flask N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine diacetate (4.78 g, 13 mmol) and 1-nitrooctadecane (3, 3.97 g, 13 mmol) are dissolved in 1:1 toluene/methanol (100 mL). Paraformaldehyde (1.39 g, 46.5 mmol) is added portion wise to the solution and the resulting suspension is refluxed. The mixture becomes homogeneous (dissolution of paraformaldehyde) and after 3 h at reflux, the mixture is cooled and evaporated in vacuo. The residue is recrystallized from ethanol, obtaining pure 4 (4.38 g, 61%) as colorless solid. M.p. 70-72° C. (EtOH), ESI-MS: 586 (MNa+), 564 (MH+); (Calc. for C36H57N3O2: 563 u.m.a.).

Provenance & Evidence