It is well known that the condensation of benzaldehyde with nitromethane can be brought about under the influence of various organic and inorganic bases and that the initially formed a-phenyl-b-nitroethanol (I) is a labile substance that loses water very readily to give w-nitrostyrene (II). 2-g The nitro alcohol, which has been prepared in an impure condition by conducting the condensation at 0'and acidifying the mixture with acetic a~ id,~~~ is very ...
