Effects of the structure of primary nitroalkanes and reaction conditions on the selectivity of acylamination of arenes in polyphosphoric acid.

The mechanism of acylamination of arenes with nitroalkanes in polyphosphoric acid has been clarified. The influence of the concentration of polyphosphoric acid, the structure of the starting compounds, and temperature on the result of the Beckmann rearrangement, which makes it possible to shift the reaction towards either benzamides or anilides, has been assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]