Formation of Carbon-Carbon Double Bonds: Recent Developments via Nitrous Acid Elimination (NAE) from Aliphatic Nitro Compounds

Aliphatic nitro compounds having an acidic hydrogen in the beta-position, with respect to the nitro group, are prone to undergo the elimination of nitrous acid, mainly under basic conditions, affording a C=C double bond. Until a few decades ago, the literature reported some examples of the application of this elimination as a strategic step in the synthesis of a variety of important targets. However, mainly in the last two decades, this methodology has been largely developed and applied, thus the aim of this review is to report the most important recent improvements.