The nitratioti of alipliatic nitriles, tliriitrilcs and ketones with aiiiyl nitrate in the presence of potassium t-butoxide afforded in gctod y-ields the potassium salts of the corresponding a- nitroriitriles, cu, a'-dinitrodinitriles and a, a'-dinitroketones. 13-potassium ol, a'- dinitroadiponitrile was hydrolyzed to l,+ diiiitrobutane and was found to react readily with methyl vinyl ketoiie to give 5, 8-dicyano-5, S-dinitro-2, ll-dodecanedione.
