Selective synthesis of 1,3-dialkyl-4-nitro-1,2,3-triazolium salts from 1-alkyl-4-nitro-1,2,3-triazoles and dialkyl sulfates

The process of alkylation of 1-alkyl-substituted 4-nitro-1,2,3-triazoles with dimethyl and diethyl sulfates has been studied. The structures of the N,N’-dialkyl-C-nitro-1,2,3-triazolium alkylsulfates and perchlorates has been confirmed by IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Alkylation with an excess of dialkyl sulfate occurred regioselectively at N-3 with the formation of 1,3-dialkyl-4-nitro-1,2,3-triazolium salts, which is in agreement quantum-chemical calculations of the relative stability of the corresponding isomeric cations. The molecular and crystal structures of the first example of this type of salt – 1,3-diethyl-4-nitro-1,2,3-triazolium perchlorate – have been determined by X-ray crystallo-graphy. Nitrotriazolium salts with mixed alkyl substituents – 3-ethyl-1-methyl- and 1-ethyl-3-methyl-4-nitro-1,2,3-triazolium salts – have been synthesized an studied for the first time.