Nitration in the carbazole series

Nitration of9-tosylcarbazole in acetic anhydride solution gives l-nitro (28%), 2-nitro (19%) and 3-nitro (53%) derivatives. The mixture of the nitro compounds obtained from 9-acetylcarbazole contains 10%, 48% and 42% of the isomers, respectively. Under similar conditions 9-nitrosocarbazole shows a different isomer distribution: 34% of 1-nitro and 66% of 3-nitrocarbazole. Nitration of carbazole is a two step process involving formation and rearrangement of 9-nitrocarbazole. The hypothesis was supported by the results of 1,3,6,8-tetrachlorocarbazole nitration and oxidation of 9-nitrosocarbazole and rearrangement of 9-nitrocarbazole in the nitration conditions.