Highly Efficient Catalytic Nitration of Phenolic Compounds by Nitric Acid with a Recoverable and Reusable Zr or Hf Oxychloride Complex and KSF

Phenolic compounds can be nitrated with 60 % nitric acid (1.2 equiv.) in the presence of catalytic amounts of a Zr or Hf oxychloride complex and montmorillonite KSF to give the corresponding nitrated products in good yields in a heterogeneous catalytic system. The co‐catalyst and montmorillonite can be easily recovered and reused in the next batch of nitration. This is a practical process for the nitration of phenolic compounds in a clean way. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)