Reactions of 1-substituted 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenes with nucleophiles
Rate constants have been determined of nucleophilic aromatic substitution of 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl methyl ether (Ia), 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl ethanoate (Ic), 2,4,6-trinitrochlorobenzene (Ib), 2,4,6-trinitrodiphenyl ether (Id), 2,4,6-trinitro-4'-bromodiphenyl ether (Ie), 2,3',4,6-tetranitrodiphenyl ether (If) and 2,4,4',6-tetranitrodiphenyl ether (Ig) with methoxide, ethanoate and methyl cyanoethanoate (II) anions in methanol. For the compounds Ia,b rate and equilibrium constants of addition of the anion II(-) at positions 3 and 5 have been measured, too. In reactions of the compounds Ia to Ig with ethanoate anion the first (rate-limiting) step produces the phenyl ester Ic which reacts with a further ethanoate anion to give 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (Ih) and ethanoic anhydride. In reactions of the bromo derivative Ie and, to a still larger extent, compound Id the methyl derivative Ia is formed besides the compound Ih.