ipso Nitration. XXIII. Reactions of cyclohexadiene adducts from nitration of 4-ethyltoluene in acetic anhydride

Abstract

The diastereoisomers of 4-ethyl-1-methyl-4-nitrocyclohexa-2,5-dienyl acetate (1) and 1-ethyl-4-methyl-4-nitrocyclohexa-2,5-dienyl acetate (2) are stereospecifically reduced to the corresponding nitrocyclohexadienols with aluminum hydride. Each dienol is stereospecifically methylated to the corresponding methyl ether with methyl iodide, silver oxide, and potassium hydroxide. Acid-catalysed solvolysis of the acetates 1 and 2 results in the substitution of the acetate moiety by other nucleophiles and these reactions are not stereospecific. The products of rearomatization of dienyl acetates, dienols, and dienyl methyl ethers depend on the acidity and ionizing power of the solvents and are readily explained in terms of reactions involving a nitrocyclohexadienyl cation or acetoxy- (hydroxy-, methoxy-)cyclohexadienyl cation as key intermediates. In the 4-acetoxy-4-alkylcyclohexadienyl cation 1,2-migration of the acetoxyl group is more rapid than alkyl migration, but 1,2-alkyl migration is faster than migration of the hydroxyl or methoxyl groups in the corresponding cations. 1-Ethyl-4-methoxy-4-methylcyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ol and 4-ethyl-3-nitrotoluene are significant minor products in the solvolysis of 1-ethyl-4-methyl-4-nitrocyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ol in aqueous methanol. Nitration of p-ethyltoluene in the presence of sulfuric acid or in trifluoroacetic anhydride gives a mixture of 4-ethyl-2-nitro- and 4-ethyl-3-nitrotoluene in a 2:1 ratio.