Phase-transfer Catalysis in Electrophilic Substitution Reactions: IX. Kinetics and Mechanism of Nitration of Polycyclic Arenes under Conditions of Phase-transfer Catalysis in a System Benzene-Aqueous Sulfuric Acid-Sodium Nitrite

Nitration of polycyclic arenes under conditions of the phase-transfer catalysis in a system benzene-aqueous sulfuric acid-sodium nitrite involves reagent activation stage with formation of its active forms H2NO2+ and H2O·NO+ in the polar phase. The limiting reaction stage is presumably interphase transport of the active reagent form.