Abstract The behaviour of 2, 1-benzisoxazoles (anthranils) towards electrophilic substitutions has been studied. Nitration of 5-chloro-2, 1-benzisoxazole (VII) exclusively gives 4-nitro-5-chloro-2, 1-benzisoxazole (XII). However, 5-chloro-3-phenyl-2, 1- benzisoxazole (VIII) gives dinitrated products XIII, one nitro group entering at position C 7 instead of C 4 of the carbocyclic ring and the other at the 4′ position of the 3-aryl ring. ...