Vicarious Nucleophilic Substitution of Hydrogen in Nitroarenes with Carbanions of α-Haloalkyl Phenyl Sulfones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00183a003

Carbanions of α-chloroalkyl phenyl sulfones and N,N-dialkyl-α-chloroalkanesulfonamides react with nitrobenzenes to effect direct nucleophilic replacement of hydrogen ortho and para to the nitro group, with vicarious loss of chloride anion, to give the corresponding nitrobenzylsulfonyl derivatives.The reaction occurs much more rapidly than the replacement of such good leaving groups as halogen, methoxy, and phenoxy.Most substituents in the nitrobenzene ring do not interfere with the reaction.The effect of substituents in the nitrobenzene and the carbanion on the orientation of the substitution is discussed.