Room-Temperature Cu(II)-Catalyzed Chemo- and Regioselective Ortho-Nitration of Arenes via C–H Functionalization

An efficient Cu-catalyzed chemo- and regioselective ortho-nitration of N,1-diaryl-5-aminotetrazoles and N,4-diaryl-3-amino-1,2,4-triazoles have been described with good functional group compatibility. The procedure features the use of operationally simple protocol utilizing the commercially available less toxic CuCl2·2H2O as catalyst and Fe(NO3)3·9H2O as nitration source at room temperature. Removal of the 5-aminotetrazole directing group has been demonstrated using base hydrolysis to afford substituted 2-nitroanilines.