Synthesis of 4-Substituted 3-Nitrophenyl Carbonyl Compounds from Benzyl Alcohols

Abstract A procedure has been developed for the synthesis of 4-R-3-nitrophenyl carbonyl compounds via tandem oxidation–nitration of benzyl alcohols. The proposed one-pot procedure makes it possible to obtain the target products in good yields under mild conditions using stable commercially available reagents. The major requirement to the substrate structure is the presence of a mesomeric donor substituent at the para position with respect to the hydroxymethyl group.