Nucleophilic aromatic substitution (S NAr): Evidence of an electron transfer process in the reaction between acyclic alkyl amines and both aromatic and heteroaromatic halides.

Abstract

A wide literature exists on S NAr reactions of aromatic and heteroaromatic halides with or without activating nitro groups. Most likely the first event is not the formation of a Meisenheimer adduct but an Electron Transfer process leading to radical intermediates. Here it is reported the first experimental evidence, by EPR spectroscopy, of the detection of the radical species involved in such a type reaction.