Liquid olefins typically react with NzO4 by free-radical reactions to form dinitro and nitronitrite derivatives. Introduction of hydrophilic substituents into 1-olefins altered the course of the reaction of the olefins with N? 04 in aqueous HN03. Citric acid was formed in 64 mol% yield by the reaction of 3-methylene-l, 5-pentanediol wlth Nz04 in aqueous HNOB. Similarly, 2-hydroxy-2-methylbutanedioic acid was made from 3-methyl-3-buten-1-01 in ...