Catalysis of the aromatic nucleophilic substitution reactions of anilines in aprotic solvents

Abstract

The reaction of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene with p-anisidine in benzene is catalysed by the nucleophile and by tetra-n-butylammonium chloride. When the nucleophile is N-methyl-p-anisidine the reaction is not catalysed by the nucleophile, tetra-n-butylammonium chloride, DABCO, or pyridine. The reactions of both p-anisidine and N-methyl-p-anisidine with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene have been shown to be catalysed by the nucleophile, tetra-n-butylammonium chloride, and (in the case of N-methyl-p-anisidine) by DABCO and pyridine. Mechanisms are proposed to rationalize the results.