Preparation of β-phenylnitroethanes having electron-donating aryl substitution

β-Phenyl-β-hydroxynitroethanes having activating aryl substituents are treated with triethylsilane/trifluoroacetic acid under solventless conditions to give the corresponding phenylnitroethanes. Substrates having no aryl substituents or substituents that are only mildly activating or deactivating do not result in appreciable conversion to the title compounds.