Silica-Polyethyleneglycols/N 2 O 4 Complexes as Heterogeneous Nitrating and Nitrosating Agents

Silica-chloride was reacted with different quantities of H(OCH 2 CH 2 ) n OH (n = 2-4) to furnish silica-based linear polyethylene glycols and cyclic polyethylene glycolic ethers. The N 2 O 4 complex of silica-tetraethylene glycolic ether ( III ) was selected and used as a stable, cheap, and heterogeneous silica-based reagent for the selective mono- and dinitration of phenols and nitrosation of thiols.