While searching nitroethane in the US patent literature I found these patents which look interesting.
4319059 XCH3COOH + NaNO2 --Mg++--> CH3NO2
4431842 ROH + HNO3 --CaCl2--> RNO2
4073798 MDA related compounds (amines and nitro compounds) made from benzaldehydes and nitroalkanes
4015011 Benzaldehyde and nitroalkane synth, Pd reduction, Eph and halo-Eph compounds reduced
4004023 MD-PNPs insecticidal
http://www.geocities.com/dritte123/PSPF.html
US4319059 is cool shit. So, obtaining the nitroethane, nitropropane, etc. from the reaction mixture is as easy as crashing it out with dH2O?
(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/hive/hiveboard/picproxie_docs/000209429-file_5ism.gif)
I'm going to help all of you cleanse this diseased planet.
I saw a post by Rhodium before on this type of reaction. Alpha-haloalkanoic acids generally aren't OTC, but don't seem to be watched either. Also, lactic acid might be easily converted into its alpha-halo form. The possibilities......
If you're interested in nitroethane.
http://www.geocities.com/dritte123/PSPF.html
Yes, right! I didn't think of lactic acid as a precursor, but as you say, it is a good alternative. There is also the reaction (in Org. Syn. f ex) which produces alpha-bromo derivatives of carboxylic acids using PBr3, either as is, or using red P + bromine.
PolytheneSam, do have refs for the rxns from lactic acid-- through to product?
There is also the reaction (in Org. Syn. f ex) which produces alpha-bromo derivatives of carboxylic acids using PBr3, either as is, or using red P + bromine.
Rhodium: Vogel has a many procedures in synthesizing alpha-bromo derivatives of carboxylic acids.
I don't have any references on lactic acid or anything on alpha-halo acids. You might try here.
http://www.orgsyn.org/orgsyn/orgsyn/fullTextSearch.asp (http://www.orgsyn.org/orgsyn/orgsyn/fullTextSearch.asp)
This looks interesting, too.
http://www.orgsyn.org/orgsyn/prep.asp?prep=cv1p0401 (http://www.orgsyn.org/orgsyn/prep.asp?prep=cv1p0401)
http://www.orgsyn.org/prep.asp?prep=cv4p0573 (http://www.orgsyn.org/prep.asp?prep=cv4p0573)
http://www.geocities.com/dritte123/PSPF.html
alpha halo acids
http://www.orgsyn.org/orgsyn/orgsyn/prepContent.asp?prep=cv1p0115 (http://www.orgsyn.org/orgsyn/orgsyn/prepContent.asp?prep=cv1p0115)
