ChemInform Abstract: Nitroalkanes as Alkyl Anion Synthons - A New Approach to the Synthesis of 2-Substituted N-Ethyl Succinimides and 2-Substituted Succinate Diesters via Nitroalkanes.

2-Substituted N-ethyl succinimide and 2-substituted succinate diesters were obtained by two key steps: (i) Michael addition of a nitroalkane to the appropriate enedione derivative under basic conditions (DBU), with the concomitant elimination of nitrous acid, and (ii) selective reduction of the obtained enone with nickel boride, in methanol/THF. In this context the nirtoalkane acts as an alkyl anion synthon. By this method trimethyl tricarboxylates were also synthesized.