Urea Nitrate : A Reagent for Regioselective Nitration of Aromatic Amines

Abstract

Nitration o f the aromatic amines with urea nitrate in sulphuric acid gave exclusively the p-isomer and when the p-position is blocked, the nitration occurred to give a m-nitroaniline derivative in excellent yields. However, nitration was not effected at o-position. Mechanistic aspect of this reaction is also discussed.