SYNTHESIS OF ALPHA-FUNCTIONAL NITRO-COMPOUNDS BY THE NITRATION OF ACTIVATED CARBONYL-COMPOUNDS IN A 2-PHASE SYSTEM

2-Nitro-1,3-dicarbonyl and alpha-nitromonocarbonyl compounds were synt hesized in the yields varying from moderate (30 %) to nearly quantitat ive by the nitration of beta-dicarbonyl compounds in a two-phase syste m: sulfuric/nitric acid mixture-chloroform at -10 divided by 10 degree s C. The use of phase transfer conditions made it possible to avoid th e formation of furoxans as by-products and to simplify the isolation o f products. This method is quite common for preparing various alpha-fu nctional nitro compounds including those containing a CF3-group.