Nitric Acid → 4-Methyl-3-nitrobenzoic acid

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

Conc. sulfuric acid (25 ml; 0.5 equiv.) was added over a period of 10 minutes to nitric acid at 0° C. (69-72%; 25 ml; 0.5 equiv.). The resulting mixture was stirred for 30 minutes at 0° C. Conc. sulfuric acid (75 ml; 1.5 equiv.) was added at room temperature, over a period of 20 minutes, to 4-methylbenzoic acid (50 g; 1 equiv.). The resulting suspension was cooled to 0° C., and the nitrating acid was added thereto over a period of 45 minutes. The resulting reaction mixture was stirred for 1 hour at 10-20° C. When the conversion was complete, the reaction mixture was poured onto ice-water and the resulting white solid was filtered out and dried. 4-Methyl-3-nitrobenzoic acid (66.5 g; 82.7%) was obtained in the form of a white solid.

Provenance & Evidence