Formation of Nitroform in the Nitration of Gem‐Dinitro Compounds

Abstract

Abstract Nitration of 4,6‐dihydroxypyrimidine in sulphuric acid gave nitroform as the sole product. This behaviour was tentatively explained by the formation of an intermediate, 5,5‐dinitro‐4,6‐dihydroxypyrimidine, that underwent hydrolysis in the nitrating acid to gem‐dinitroacetyl formamidine. This compound was further nitrated in the same reaction mixture to trinitroacetylformamidine which finally underwent hydrolytic cleavage to nitroform. It was also demonstrated that gem‐dinitroacetyl ureas were able to produce nitroform on nitration. The structures of the proposed trinitroacetylureas were confirmed by the isolation of one of their derivatives.