Ultrasound promoted regioselective nitration of phenols using dilute nitric acid in the presence of phase transfer catalyst

Phenols are selectively nitrated to o-nitrophenol along with rate enhancement using dilute nitric acid (6 wt%)/tetra butyl ammonium bromide (TBAB) under sonication. The selectivity can also be reversed to p-nitrophenol using NaBr as a catalyst. Kinetic analysis of nitration of phenol both with and without sonication has been investigated by variation of reaction parameters such as catalyst, nitric acid and substrate concentration.