Aromatic Bromination in Concentrated Nitric Acid

Action of bromine in concentrated nitric acid allows carrying out mono- and polybromination of moderately deactivated aromatic compounds. 4-Chloronitrobenzene and isophthalic acid turnes into 3-bromo-4-chloronitrobenzene and 5-bromoisophthalic acid at reaction with bromine in concentrated nitric acid at 20˚C whereas in absence of bromine in the same conditions 4-chloro-1, 3-dinitrobenzene and 5-nitroisophthalic acid are formed accordingly. Presence of bromine in concentrated nitric acid changes nitrating capacity to brominating one. Terephthalic acid and phthalic anhydride at heating with bromine in concentrated nitric acid can be transformed to appropriating tetrabromo substituted compounds