Methods for the nitration of aromatic compounds

According to the invention there is provided a method for the nitration of an aromatic compound including the step of reacting the aromatic compound with nitric acid in the presence of an acid anhydride and an aluminosilicate catalyst, in which the acid anhydride is at least one of: ((CnH2n+1)CO)20, where n is 1 to 4 and the moiety CnH2n+1 can be straight or branched chain; ((CHpClq)CO)20, where p is 0 to 2, q is 1 to 3, and p+q = 3; and oxoiane -2, 5-dione, with the proviso that when the acid anhydride is (CH3CO)20, the aromatic compound is toluene, 2-nitrotoluene or 4-nitrotoluene, and the nitration is performed to produce 2,4-dinitrotoluene