Regioselective nitration of phenol over solid acid catalysts

Phenol is selectively nitrated in liquid phase to ortho-nitrophenol in high yield using dilute nitric acid over solid acid catalysts. Zeolite H-beta was found to be a very active catalyst for nitration of phenol to ortho-nitrophenol at room temperature in carbon tetrachloride as a solvent. Compared to the conventional process, phenol nitration over solid acid catalyst is a clean and environment friendly process with a simpler workup procedure for quantitative isolation o