Synthesis 2010(13): 2111-2123  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1218810
REVIEW
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Nucleophilic Substitutions of Nitroarenes and Pyridines: New Insight and New Applications

Manfred Schlosser*a, Renzo Ruzziconi*b
a Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale (EPFL - BCh), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
e-Mail: manfred.schlosser@epfl.ch;
b Chemistry Department, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 10, 06100 Perugia, Italy
e-Mail: ruzzchor@unipg.it;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 29 March 2010
Publication Date:
02 June 2010 (online)

Abstract

At the beginning of this article an in-depth comparison of electrophilic and nucleophilic aromatic and heterocyclic substitution processes examines their scopes of applicability in a new light. In the subsequent parts, recent progress in the area of halide and hydride displacement from pyridines is highlighted. Particular attention is paid to the leaving group aptitudes of fluoride and chloride, to the effect of ‘passive’ substituents on the reaction rates, and to the control of the relative reactivity at halogen-bearing 4- versus 2-(or 6-)positions.

1 Introduction

2 Electrophilic as Opposed to Nucleophilic Substitutions

3 Nitroarenes as Substrates for Nucleophilic Substitutions

4 Nucleophilic Substitution at Resonance-Disabled Positions

5 Nucleofugality Contest between Fluorine and Chlorine

6 Substituent Effects on the Reactivity of 2-Halopyridines

7 ‘Silyl Trick’: Discriminating between Two Potential Exchange Sites

8 Hydride as the Nucleofugal Leaving Group

9 Summing Up

90

Ruzziconi, R.; Spizzichino, S. unpublished, 2010.

91

Mazzanti, A.; Lunazzi, L.; Spizzichino, S., Ruzziconi, R.; Schlosser, M. unpublished, 2010.