Ipso nitration. XX. Nitration of 5-tert-butyl-1,2,3-trimethylbenzene in acetic anhydride. Formation and rearomatization of adducts

Abstract

Nitration of 5-tert-butyl-1,2,3-trimethylbenzene in acetic anhydride gives both diastereomers of the adduct 1-tert-butyl-3,4,5-trimethyl-4-nitrocyclohexa-2,5-dienyl acetate and one diastereomer of 1-tert-buty]-3,4,5-trimethyl-4-nitrocyclohexa-2,5-dienol, in 91% yield, together with 5-tert-butyl-1,2,3-trimethyl-4-nitrobenzene. Solvolysis of the dienyl acetate in acidified aqueous acetone and acidified methanol affords the diastereomers of the dienols and the dienyl methyl ethers, respectively. The dienyl methyl ethers are also formed from the dienyl acetate in neutral methanol and again on reaction with methanolic sodium methoxide. The dienols isomerize (epimerize) in acidified aqueous acetone. Reaction of the dienyl methyl ethers in aqueous methanol, or prolonged reaction in methanol, results in the formation of methyl-1,2,3-trimethylphenyl ether. Similar cleavage of the tert-butyl group is the main reaction on solvolysis of the dienyl acetate in aqueous acetic acid. Under more acidic conditions the dienyl acetate gives 5-tert-butyl-2,3-dimethylbenzyl nitrite and lesser amounts of 5-tert-butyl-2,3-dimethylphenylnitromethane and 5-tert-butyl-2,3-dimethylbenzyl acetate. In trifluoromethanesulfonic and fluorosulfonic acids 5-tert-butyl-1,2,3-trimethyl-4-nitrobenzene is the major product.