Formation of Lower Nitro Alkanes by Vapor Phase Nitration of Cyclic Hydrocarbons

Abstract

Vapor-phase nitration of cyclohexane and cyclohexyl nitrite produces primary nitro alkanes, the yield of which decreases with decreasing number of carbon atoms. Both their structure and relative ratios of formation lead to the conclusion that they are formed from 1-pentyl radical, which in turn is formed from cyclohexoxyl radical. The intermediate phases are radical reactions already known from the vapor-phase oxidation of hydrocarbons.La nitration en phase gazeuse du cyclohexane et du nitrite de cyclohexyle conduit A des nitroalcanes primaires avec des rendements qui diminuent lorsque le nombre d'atomes de carbone diminue. La structure et les quantitks relatives de produits obtenus tendent a supposer que ces composks sont form6s partir du radical pentyle-1 qui proviendrait lui-mhe du radical hydroxycyclohexyle-1. Les phases intenntdiaires seraient des r6actions radicaliques dkja connues pour I'oxydation en phase gazeuse des hydrocarbures.