Anomalous Nitration Reactions of Halotropones and Tribromotropolone

Nitration of 2-bromo or 2-chlorotropone gave a new compound, 2,7-dinitrotropone: The halegen atom on the 2-position was displaced by the nitro group through an electrophilic substitution reaction. Nitration of 3,5,7-tribromotropolone gave 3,7-dibromo-5-nitropolone: the nitro group again displaced the bromine atom at position 5.