An Exceptionally Stable Ti Superoxide Radical Ion: A Novel Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Direct Conversion of Aromatic Primary Amines to Nitro Compounds.

A matrix-bound superoxide radical anion, generated by treating Ti(OR) (R=iPr, nBu) with H O , is a selective heterogeneous catalyst for the oxidation of anilines to the corresponding nitroarenes with 50 % aqueous H O [Eq. (1)]. Yields of 82-98 % are obtained, even with anilines bearing electron-withdrawing substituents (R=NO , COOH).