Titanium(III) Chloride Mediated Reduction of 1-Nitro-2-phenylethenes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.64.1787

The reaction of 1-nitro-2-phenylethenes (β-nitrostyrenes) with aqueous titanium(III) chloride afforded substituted pyrroles in addition to the expected reduction products, oximes and carbonyl compounds. 2-Substituted 1-nitro-2-phenylethenes yielded divinylamine derivatives instead of pyrroles.The reaction mechanism has been rationalized by taking account of the electron transfer from titanium(III) species to the nitro olefines, followed by protonation, dimerization, cyclization, and/or hydrolysis.