Highly efficient synthesis of O-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydroxylamine. Application to the synthesis of substituted N-benzoyliminopyridinium ylides.

An efficient two-step synthesis of O-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydroxylamine is described along with a comparison of its aminating efficiency with O-mesitylenesulfonylhydroxylamine (MSH). It was used in an expedient N-amination/benzoylation procedure involving various substituted pyridines, leading to polysubstituted N-benzoyliminopyridinium ylides, and the scope of its amination power was studied.