Decomposition products of halonitroacetic acid derivatives

The halonitro group O₂NCHX of chloro- and bromonitroacetic acid derivatives underwent reduction to H₂NCO upon boiling. The same derivatives decomposed to oxalic acid upon long storage. Likely chemical transformation pathways are discussed.Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432 Chernogolovka. Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 151–153, January, 1992.