Abstract
The mono nitration of phenols with ferric nitrate has been achieved in high regio-selectivities in 1–3 h at 30–60°C using the ionic liquid 1,3-di-n-butylimidazolium tetraflouroborate [bbim]BF4 as the solvent. In particular, excellent para selectives of the order of 76–86% for unsubstituted, ortho and meta-substituted phenols were observed.
Acknowledgment
RR thanks CSIR, New Delhi for senior research fellowship.