Aqueous Polyethylene Glycols as Green Reaction Media for the Nitration of Aromatic and Heterocyclic Compounds in Presence of Sodium Nitrite Under Transition Metal-Free and Mineral Acid-Free Conditions- A Kinetic Study

Abstract

Aqueous polyethylene glycols (PEG) were found to be effective green reaction media in NaNO2 triggered kinetics of nitration of aromatic compounds under acid-free conditions. Reaction obeyed second order kinetics with first order in [Ar-OH] and also in [NaNO2]. Added PEG accelerated the rate of nitration with its concentration. Added acryl amide or acrylonitrile to the reaction mixture did not alter the reaction rates or did not undergo polymerization indicating the absence of free radical intermediates.

Keywords: Aqueous PEG NaNO2, nitration, aromatic compounds, kinetics and mechanism, rate acceleration, acid-free and metal-free conditions