Nitric Acid → 2-Nitrotoluene

Participants

Reaction Steps

Toluene (0.91 g, 10 mmol), 68% nitric acid (30% mmol, 2.8 g) and [C4min][OTf] (0.57 g, 2 mmol) and heated (oil bath at 110° C.) in a 25 ml round bottom flask equipped with a reflux condenser for 24 hours. The reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature and the nitrotoluene/residual nitric acid is distilled off at 140° C. at 1 mBar. Phase separation of the distillate yields pure nitrotoluene as a mixture of 2- and 4-isomers. The ionic liquid remains in the distillation flask and can be reused on further reactions.

Provenance & Evidence