Ab2 never triied it with nitroethane, only with nitromethane as you mention antoncho, BUT aqueous NaOH was used and the yeilds were always impressive (ca 80%) with both 2,5-DMNS and 2,3-DM,4,5-MDNS.
Ab2 just assumed that since the ref on Rhodiums site used nitroethane that it worked equally well for nitropropenes. thanks for the heads up