| Abstract: | The Bamberger-Ham condensation of 4-substituted nitrosobenzenes in concentrated sulfuric acid reported as a method of synthesis for phenazine N-oxides has been found to be limited to electron donating substituents. Methyl 4-nitrosobenzoale has been found to react under these conditions to give dimethyl 2-nitrodiphenylamine-4, 5-diearboxylate ( 2 ). Compounds of unknown structure previously reported to arise from acid treatment of 4-bromo- and 4-chloronilrosobenzene have been shown to be 4, 5-dibromo-2-nitrosophenylamine ( 10 ) and the analogous dichloro compound. Treatment under stronger acidic conditions (oleum) converted 10 but not 2 into the corresponding phenazine N-oxide. Mechanistic implications are discussed. |
