Reduction of 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane with Zn in aqueous ethanol in t
he presence of NH4Cl affords 2,3-bis(hydroxylamino)-2,3-dimethylbutane toge
ther with 2,3-diamino-2,3-dimethylbutane and complex Zn salts. A modified p
rocedure was developed for the synthesis of bishydroxylamine, which involve
s reduction in a Zn/NH4Cl/THF-H2O system.