Regioselectivity of the amination of some 3‐nitropyridines by liquid ammonia/potassium permanganate
5- and 8-Nitroisoquinoline and some of their derivatives are aminated in a liquid ammonia solution of potassium permanganate to yield the corresponding 6- and 7-amino compounds. From 5,7-dinitroisoquinoline the 6,8-diamino derivative is obtained; 1-nitroisoquinoline has been found to be unreactive. FMO calculations made for a few nitroisoquinolines confirm the experimentally observed regioselectivity of the amination.