Electrooxidative transformation of unsubstituted and substituted nitro hydrocarbons into carbonyl compounds

Article abstract of DOI:10.1023/A:1020906805561

Alkaline salts of aci-forms of secondary nitro compounds, viz., β-nitropropylbenzene, nitrocyclohexane, 5-nitroheptan-2-one, and methyl-4-nitrohexanoate, were selectively or predominately oxidized into the corresponding ketones and their ketals under conditions of undivided amperostatic electrolysis in methanol. Mixtures of the corresponding aldehydes, their acetals, and methyl carboxylates were formed under similar conditions from the salts of primary nitro compounds, viz., 1-nitrohexane, nitromethylbenzene, and β-nitroethylbenzene.