Because the nitration of methyl benzoate takes place so much more smoothly than does that of benzoic acid, 2 it was hoped that the nitration of methyl a-naphthoate might yield methyl 3, 8-dinitronaphthoate among the dinitration products. It has been found, however, that the main product of this reaction is methyl 4, 5-dinitronaphthoate, a substance which is also formed when methyl 5-nitronaphthoate is nitrated. The nitration of methyl 8- ...
