Reactions of 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene with primary aliphatic alcohols

Analysis of reactions of 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNB) with alcoholates of primary aliphatic alcohols (substitution of the nitro group or generation of σ^H-complexes at the unsubstituted position of TNB) leads to the conclusion that high basicity of alcoholates (MeONa, EtONa) of unsubstituted primary alcohols promotes formation of σ^H-complexes, thus preventing nucleophilic substitution of a nitro group. Introduction of electron-withdrawing substitutes (R = HC≡C, H₂C = CH, pyridyl) into the alcohol molecule (RCH₂OH) reduces the basicity of their alcoholates which makes substitution of nitro groups possible aff ording the corresponding 1-alkoxy-3,5-dinitrobenzenes in the presence of K₂CO₃ in N-methylpyrrolidone at 80 °C.