Influence of the heterocyclic side ring on orientation during nitrations of 1,2-alkylenedioxy-annelated benzenes and their mononitro derivatives

Nitration of 1,2-alkylenedioxybenzenes 1 furnished the respective nitro derivatives 3 and 4 in the relative ratios: 4a:3a /100:trace, 4b:3b /98:2.4, 4c:3c /86:14, 4e:3e /91:9 and 4f:3f /99:1.3. Nitration of 4 gave 5a:6a:8a /0:0:100, 5b:6b:8b /7.7:3.2:89, 5c:6c:8c /23:12:65, 5d:6d:8d /14:74:12, 5e:6e:8e /27:18:55 and 5f:6f:8f /23:7.0:70. Nitration of the isomeric 3 afforded the dinitro products 5, 6 and 7 in the following relative ratios: 5a:6a:7a /92:8:0, 5b:6b:7b /80:20:0, 5c:6c:7c /69:20:1 1, 5d:6d:7d /45:19:36, 5e:6e:7e /37:57:5.9 and 5f:6f:7f /64:36:0. Nitration of 3-nitro-1,2-dimethoxybenzene ( 9 ) furnished: 10:11 /63:37. Orientation as a function of the heterocyclic ring-size is discussed.