Nitrosochlorination of Alkenes

The reaction of nitrosochlorination has recently been attracting the attention of organic chemists, since it provides a ready means of obtaining classes of compounds which are extremely interesting from both theoretical and practical points of view. The laws governing this reaction, including the fine details of the stereochemistry and mechanism of this reaction, have not hitherto been systematised. The present review gives a detailed and systematic survey of the processes involved in nitrosochlorination and of the empirical laws of this reaction. Special attention is paid to published data on the mechanism and the stereochemistry of the reaction; nitrosochlorination is shown to possess features common to other reactions of electrophilic addition. The paper is addressed to a wide circle of organic chemists and undergraduate and postgraduate students. The list of references contains 119 items.