Synthesis and hydrolysis of 5-nitrofurandicarboxylic acid esters

A method of the hydrolysis of 5-nitrofurandicarboxylic acid testers is proposed. The difference in the reactivities of the ester groups attached to the furan ring and in the side chain is explained by the effect of steric factors. It is shown that the direction of hydrolysis is determined by the structure of the alkyl substituent in the ester group. The mechanisms of the hydrolysis are discussed.