Nitration of p-tert-butyltoluene in acetic anhydride. 1,2 and 1,4 adducts

Abstract

Nitration of p-tert-butyltoluene in acetic anhydride gives 5-tert-butyl-2-methyl-2-nitro-1,2-dihydrophenyl acetate (43%), cis- and trans-1-tert-butyl-4-methyl-4-nitro-1,4-dihydrophenyl acetate (16%) and 4-tert-butyl-2-nitrotoluene (41%). Reaction of either of the 1,2 or 1,4 nitroacetoxy adducts with hydrogen chloride gives a mixture of the 1,2 and 1,4 nitrochloro adducts. The 1,2 (secondary) acetate adduct eliminates nitrous acid to form 5-tert-butyl-2-methylphenyl acetate under mildly acidic conditions. Under more vigorously acidic conditions 4-tert-butyl-2-nitrotoluene is formed. The same products are formed from the 1,4 (tertiary) acetate adducts but p-tolyl acetate is also obtained. The 1,2 and 1,4 adducts couple with anisole to form 5-tert-butyl-4′-methoxy-2-methylbiphenyl.