Fischer-Hepp rearrangement | |
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Named after |
Otto Fischer Eduard Hepp |
Reaction type | Rearrangement reaction |
Identifiers | |
RSC ontology ID | RXNO:0000095 |
In organic chemistry, the Fischer–Hepp rearrangement is a rearrangement reaction in which an aromatic N- nitroso (−N=O) or nitrosamine (>N−N=O) converts to a carbon nitroso compound: [1] [2]
This organic reaction was first described by the German chemist Otto Philipp Fischer (1852–1932) and Eduard Hepp (June 11, 1851 – June 18, 1917) [3] in 1886, and is of importance because para- NO secondary anilines cannot be prepared in a direct reaction.
The rearrangement reaction takes place by reacting the nitrosamine precursor with hydrochloric acid. The chemical yield is generally good under these conditions, but often much poorer if a different acid is used. The exact reaction mechanism is unknown but there is evidence suggesting an intramolecular reaction.