Unusual nitration of some 1,2,3,4-tetramethylbenzene derivatives
Abstract
Direct action of cold fuming nitric acid upon 1,2,3,4-tetramethyl-5,6-dinitrobenzene gave 2,3,6,6-tetramethyl-2,3,4,5-tetranitrocyclohex-4-en-1-one (I) in high yield; under mild conditions, 5,6-dihalogeno-1,2,3,4-tetramethylbenzenes were readily converted into a mixture of 5,6-dihalogeno-2,3,4-trimethylbenzyl nitrate and 6-halogeno-2,3,4,5-tetramethyl-4-nitrocyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-one.