The Hofmann rearrangement is an important example of a rearrangement reaction that is discussed in most sophomore organic chemistry texts. Yet very few examples of this reaction can be found in lab texts. We have developed a simple experiment that involves the Hofmann rearrangement of 3-nitrobenzamide to give 3-nitroaniline using household bleach. The synthesis of 3-nitrobenzamide by nitration of benzamide and the subsequent Hofmann rearrangement can be carried out in two-and-a-half hours, making this a new and simple two-step reaction sequence for the organic laboratory.
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Citation
Monk, Keith A.; Mohan, Ram S. J. Chem. Educ.1999 76 1717.
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