A convenient new synthesis of aromatic amines involves heating aromatic carboxylic acids with nitromethane in polyphosphoric acid. The reaction apparently involves a Lossen rearrangement, and hydroxamic acids are formed as intermediates. With higher primary nitro alkanes, such as nitroethane, the products are generally amidoximes rather than amines. Aliphatic amines and aromatic amines containing electron-withdrawing groups are better ...
