Nitration of aromatics with dinitrogen pentoxide in a liquefied 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane medium

Abstract

Regardless of the sustainable development path, today, there are highly demanded chemical productions still operating that bear environmental and technological risks inherited from the previous century. The fabrication of nitro compounds, and nitroarenes in particular, is traditionally associated with acidic wastes formed in nitration reactions exploiting mixed acids. However, nitroarenes are indispensable for industrial and military applications. We faced the challenge and developed a greener, safer, and yet effective method for the production of nitroaromatics. The proposed approach comprises the application of an eco-friendly nitrating agent, namely dinitrogen pentoxide (DNP), in the medium of liquefied 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (TFE) – one of the most non-hazardous Freons. Importantly, the used TFE is not emitted into the atmosphere but is effortlessly recondensed and returned into the process. DNP is obtained via the oxidation of dinitrogen tetroxide with ozone. The elaborated method is characterized by high yields of the targeted nitro arenes, mild reaction conditions, and minimal amount of easy-to-utilize wastes.