Heteropolyacids as an efficient and reusable catalytic system for the regiospecific nitration of phenols with metal nitrates

Abstract

Highly regiospecific mononitration of phenols and substituted phenols is accomplished employing a metal nitrate and a catalytic amount of heteropolyacid in acetonitrile. An xclusive ortho-selectivity was observed with excellent yields. A variety of metal nitrates were used to obtain o-nitrophenols exclusively in good to excellent yields. The use of heteropolyacid is key for the selectivity observed. © 2012 Chemical Society of Ethiopia.