Ceric Ammonium Nitrate Promoted Highly Chemo‐ and Regioselective ortho‐Nitration of Anilines under Mild Conditions

Abstract A new and practical strategy for chemo‐ and regioselective ortho ‐nitration of aniline carbamates under mild and neutral conditions have been disclosed using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as a cheap nitrating agent. The electrophilic reaction exhibits a simple and straightforward pathway to obtain exclusively ortho ‐nitration products in good to excellent yields with outstanding functional groups tolerance for both electron rich and highly electron‐deficient anilines. The highlight of this protocol is the role of ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as a cheap nitrating agent that (Ce +4 ) via chelation with the directing group controls the regioselectivity of electrophilic nitration without the requirement of additional metal catalyst and external oxidant.