Nitration of 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene in acetic anhydride

Abstract

It is suggested that the material, m.p. 47–48° of Davies and Warren (loc. cit. infra), considered to be 1,4-dimethyl-5-nitronaphthalene, is probably, assuming its substantial homogeneity, 1-methyl-4-methylene-1-nitro-1,4-dihydronaphthalene (II). The formation of 1-methyl-4-nitromethylnaphthalene from 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene (Robinson and Thompson, loc. cit. infra) can be envisaged as a succession of additions and eliminations of normal types.