LASER-INDUCED SELECTIVE NITRATION OF 3 CYCLOALKANES

Nitrated compounds are used as explosives and propellants. Laser-induc ed chemistry possesses the potential to drive some reactions in an eff icient and selective manner, and may be useful in driving nitration re actions toward specific products. The results of several successful at tempts to laser induce the reactions of nitrogen oxides with three cyc loalkanes are reported. Specifically, the tunable, continuous-wave car bon dioxide infrared laser was used to drive the reaction between nitr ogen dioxide and cyclopropane, cyclobutane and cyclopentane under a va riety of reaction conditions. The optimization analysis of the reactio n conditions is presented. In addition to the formation of nitrocycloa lkanes, the other products formed were either from ring cleavage or fr om nitration or oxidation of ring fragments. By examining the impact o f various reaction conditions on the product arrays, it was possible t o find optimum conditions for producing the nitrocycloalkanes while mi nimizing side products.