Positional selectivity in aromatic nitration occurring at the diffusion rate
Abstract
Nitration of pseudocumene (1,2,4-trimethyl-benzene) produces 5- and 6-nitropseudocumenes in the ratio 9:1 under conditions where there is evidence that both C-5 and C-6 are activated sufficiently to react upon encounter, showing the necessity for including in the kinetic scheme an intermediate preceding Wheland intermediate formation.