[xshadow]

HI!

I have a doubts reading this phrase:

"Nitroalkanes can be alkylaed in a single step with hydroxide as a base: phase transfer  conditions (like BnEt₃N⁺Cl^-) keep the OH^- and the electrophile apart,preventing alcohol formation"

the reagents are:

Nitropropane
NaOH
butyl iodide

Why can NaoH react only with the nitropopane and not with the butyl iodide when it's transferred in the organic phase by the catalyst??
I suppose butyl iodide is also in the organic phase.


I know that OH- can react with alkyl halide  giving alcohol
Thanks

[rolnor]

Nitropronane is a better nucleophile. I now that you usually get O-alkylation of nitroalkanes but is it different when you use phase-transfer conditions?