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SYNTHETIC COMMUNICATIONS
Vol. 32, No. 22, pp. 34813486, 2002

THE RAPID SYNTHESIS OF

b-NITROSTYRENES UNDER
MICROWAVE IRRADIATION
WITHOUT SOLVENT

Cunde Wang* and Song Wang

Department of Chemistry, Yangzhou University,

Yangzhou 225002, P.R. China

ABSTRACT

The b-nitrostyrenes (3al) were prepared by condensation

of benzaldehydes with nitromethane in the presence of
K2CO3/Al2O3 under microwave irradiation without solvent.
They were characterized by IR, 1H-NMR, and elemental
analysis.

Many reports dealing with the biological activity of b-nitrostyrene

stated that it had a detrimental eect on sects and on the growth of fungi
and that it could be used for the protective treatment of textiles, leather, and
other organic materials. Generally, b-nitrostyrenes were synthesized by con-
densation with benzaldehydes and nitromethane. And the condensation was
usually been catalyzed by (a) bases such as alcoholic potassium hydroxide,
aqueous sodium hydroxide or alcoholic methylamine[1]; (b) buer solutions
containing a conjugate acidbase pair such as ammonium acetate in

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

3481

DOI: 10.1081/SCC-120014781 0039-7911 (Print); 1532-2432 (Online)

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3482 WANG AND WANG

acetic acid[2]; (c) salts such as zinc chloride or potassium uoride in the
presence of dimethylammonium chloride in reuxing toluene solution.[3]
Recently many studies have shown that some organic reactions are faster
and more ecient under microwave irradiation in the solid state than in
solution.[4,5] To develop a more reliable procedure for b-nitrostyrenes, we
have found that b-nitrostyrenes were conveniently obtained under mild con-
ditions by the reaction between benzaldehydes and nitromethane in the
presence of potassium carbonate under microwave irradiation without
solvent (Sch. 1). The optimum proportions of the reagents involved

Scheme 1.

Table 1. Preparation of Compounds 3

Microwave Irrad.
Power Time Yielda
Compound Formula (W) (min) (%) M.P. ( C) [Lit.  C]

3a C8H7NO2 175 5 86 5758 (5959)[2]

3b C8H7NO3 200 5 91 167169 (168169)[2]
3c C8H5NO2Cl2 200 4 95 109110 (110)[1,6]
3d C8H6N2O4 225 4 94 9496
3e C9H7NO4 225 4 90 165166
3f C8H6NO2Cl 200 5 92 113114 (113114)[7]
3g C9H9NO4 225 5 94 167168 (167168)[4]
3h C8H7NO3 225 4 89 133134 (134.5135)[3]
3i C10H12N2O2 175 6 90 186188 (187188)[8]
3j C9H9NO3 225 5 91 8587 (8687)[2]
3k C15H12N2O5 175 6 74 140141 (141)[9]
3l C17H14N2O7 175 6 71 144146 (144147)[10]
a
Isolated yield.
 Table 2. Elemental Analyses and Spectral Data of Compounds 3

Anal. (%)
1
Compound Calcd. Found H-NMR (CDCl3, ppm) IR (KBr cm 1)

3a C 64.40 64.41 6.908.10 (m, 7H) 1660, 1630, 1530, 965, 770, 710
b-NITROSTYRENES

H 4.73 4.70
N 9.39 9.36
3b C 58.18 58.10 6.818.18 (m, 6H), 35003200, 1630, 1530, 1510, 1350, 970, 830
H 4.27 4.25 10.011.5 (bs, 1H)
N 8.48 8.45
3c C 44.06 44.01 6.808.18 (m, 5H) 1640, 1590, 1510, 1350, 870, 810
H 2.31 2.30
N 6.42 6.29
3d C 49.49 49.46 7.408.10 (m, 6H) 1630, 1610, 1570, 1335, 980, 820
H 3.12 3.08
N 14.43 14.40
3e C 55.96 55.88 6.908.00 (m, 5H), 6.12 (s, 2H) 1635, 1600, 1510, 1380, 880, 810
H 3.65 3.61
N 7.25 7.10
3f C 52.33 52.10 7.107.80 (m, 6H) 1630, 1620, 1530, 1360, 965, 820
H 3.29 3.27
N 7.63 7.68

(continued )
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 3484

Table 2. Continued

Anal. (%)
1
Compound Calcd. Found H-NMR (CDCl3, ppm) IR (KBr cm 1)

3g C 55.39 55.34 6.608.20 (m, 5H), 3.74 (s, 3H), 35003200, 1630, 1610, 1535, 1350, 880, 810
H 4.65 4.60 9.8011.5 (bs, 1H)
N 7.18 7.20
3h C 58.18 55.00 6.888.20 (m, 6H), 10.311.0 35003200, 1630, 1605, 1530, 1350, 980, 830
H 4.27 4.23 (bs, 1H)
N 4.48 4.50
3i C 62.49 62.22 6.727.96 (m, 6H), 3.09 (s, 6H) 1620, 1610, 1530, 1380, 980, 830
H 6.30 6.40
N 14.58 14.20
3j C 60.34 60.10 6.808.18 (m, 6H), 3.68 (s, 3H) 1620, 1530, 1460, 1380, 990, 830
H 5.06 4.88
N 7.82 7.86
3k C 60.00 59.87 7.108.20 (m, 10H), 5.22 (s, 2H) 1630, 1610, 1535, 1350, 880, 810
H 4.00 3.90
N 9.33 9.20
3l C 56.98 56.90 7.158.20 (m, 9H), 5.20 (s, 2H), 1760, 1700, 1630, 1580, 1530, 1350, 980, 830
H 3.91 3.87 2.25 (s, 3H)
N 7.82 7.80
WANG AND WANG
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 MARCEL DEKKER, INC. 270 MADISON AVENUE NEW YORK, NY 10016
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b-NITROSTYRENES 3485

have been experimentally determined. The best reaction time and microwave
power have been selected also under microwave irradiation without solvent
(Table 1). All the products have been fully characterized on the basis of their
microanalytical and spectral data (Table 2).
In conclusion, we developed a procedure for the ecient preparation
of b-nitrostyrenes (3) from benzaldehydes and nitromethane with excellent
yields (7195%). The nal products were easily isolated and puried directly
by silica gel chromatography. The simplicity of the experimental procedure,
direct conversion of benzaldehydes to b-nitrostyrenes (3) in the presence of
the catalyst K2CO3/Al2O3, quick reaction times (46 min) and lower power
(175225 W) made this method more attractive than others known in
literature.

EXPERIMENTAL

Melting points were uncorrected, elemental analytical data were

obtained using a model 240 elementary instrument. IR spectra were mea-
sured using a model 408 infrared spectrometer, 1H NMR spectra were
recorded on a JNM-90Q spectrometer using TMS as internal standard
(CDCl3 solutions).

General Procedure for the Preparation of b-Nitrostyrenes (3al)

A mixture of 5 mmol benzaldehyde, 1.53 g (25 mmol) nitromethane

and 0.35 g potassium carbonate was nely ground by agate mortar and
pestle and was mixed with 5 g aluminum oxide (150 mesh). The mixture
was then put in a 25 mL beaker and introduced into a Galan WP750A
domestic microwave oven. Microwave irradiation was carried out for the
appropriate time and at the power indicated (see Table 1). The mixture was
cooled to ambient temperature, then water and nitromethane were removed
by reduced pressure. The residue was puried by silica gel chromatography
(petroleum ether [6090 C]/ethyl acetate/dichloromethane, 1 : 1 : 0.3) to give
the product (3al). The structures of all products were identied on the basis
of elemental analytical data, IR, and 1H NMR data (see Table 2).

REFERENCES

1. Otto, S.; Graefe, H.A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1952, 74, 44864490.
2. Gairaud, C.B.; Lappin, G.R. J. Org. Chem. 1953, 18, 13.
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3486 WANG AND WANG

3. Dauzonne, D.; Royer, R. Synthesis 1984, 12, 10541057.

4. (a) Toda, F.; Tanaka, K.; Iwata. J. Org. Chem. 1989, 54, 30073009;
(b) Rosini, G.; Ballini, R. Synthesis 1985, 6, 515.
5. (a) Wang, C.D.; Shi, X.Z.; Xie, R. J. Synth. Commun. 1997, 27(14),
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9. Arrid Ek; Bernhard Witkop. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1954, 76, 5579.
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Received in Japan July 10, 2001