Nitric Acid → 2,3-dimethoxy-6-nitrophenol

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

2,3-Dimethoxyphenol (79) (5.00 g, 0.032 mol) was dissolved in glacial acetic acid (50 ml) and the resultant, stirred solution was cooled to 5° C. A cooled (5° C.) mixture of concentrated nitric acid (10 ml) and water (10 ml) was added in one portion to the phenol solution which immediately turned dark red-brown. The mixture was stirred for a further minute and poured into water (200 ml), this solution was neutralised with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution until all effervescense had ceased. The resultant yellow solution was extracted with several portions of diethyl ether until the ether remained almost colourless. The combined extracts were washed with water until the water remained almost colourless, dried (MgSO4) and the ether evaporated off in vacuo to leave a brown oil. This was purified by column chromatography (10% petrol/dichloromethane) to give a bright yellow solid.

Provenance & Evidence