Phase transfer‐catalyzed nitromercuration of diene polymers

Abstract

Abstract A mild, efficient method of nitrating olefins was described recently by Corey and Estreicher. Application of their procedure to diene polymers failed because of the insolubility of the hydrophobic polymer in the aqueous nitromercuration regent. Use of water‐immiscible organic cosolvents gave slow nitromercuration with substantial formation of nitrite esters. To overcome these problems a nonaqueous phase transfer‐assisted method of rapid selective nitromercuration of diene polymers was developed.