The nitration of aliphatic and phenyl acetate esters with alkyl nitrates in the presence of potassium amide in liquid ammonia gives not only a-nitro esters 1 but also nitroalkanes 2 and dialkyl carbonates 3. In addition to these compounds, another a-nitro ester 4 forms when the alkoxy portion of the ester and alkyl nitrate are not the same. Compounds 2 and 3 arise from a fragmentation reaction and compound 4 from a transesterification reaction, ...
