Synthesis of 4-Nltro-o-Xylene by Selective Nitration of o-Xylene

摘要

Nitration of o-xylene in the presence of fuming nitric acid and a combination of 115 % polyphosphoric acid, nitrobenzene, and H-Y zeolite catalyst provides a selectivity of 4-nitro-o-xylene of 71 at 85 mol% conversion of o-xylene. The present process has the potential to be an environmentally-friendly, sustainable, safe, and selective aromatic nitration process compared to the incumbent process.