Metal-free regioselective C-3 nitration of quinoline N-oxides with tert-butyl nitrite

A direct and eco-friendly nitration methodology to synthesize 3-nitroquinoline N-oxides from quinoline N-oxides using tert-butyl nitrite as both the nitro source and oxidant has been developed. Although this reaction undergoes a free radical process, it exhibits high regioselectivity and can be smoothly scaled up to gram scale.