2-Substituted nitrones and isomeric hydroxylamines - obtained via aluminium amalgam reduction of nitro nitriles and ketones-a new access to convenient intermediates for nitroso carbonyl compounds preparation

Substituted five-membered cyclic nitrones (pyrroline N-oxides) have been obtained in good to high yields from tertiary γ-nitro ketones and nitriles employing aluminium amalgam as a reducing agent in moist diethyl ether or THF. Attempts to obtain cyclic amino nitrones from α- or β-nitro nitriles failed and only the corresponding hydroxylamines have been isolated. Both nitrones and hydroxylamines have been used for synthesis of tertiary C-nitroso nitriles or ketones.