The nitration of various deactivated arenes (including methanesulfonyl-, nitro-, and polyhalobenzenes) was carried out in good yield with mixed nitric-triflatoboric superacid. For example pentafluorobenzene gave pentafluoronitrobenzene in 99% yield, nitrobenzene to m-dinitrobenzene in 92% selectivity with 85% overall yield, and methyl phenyl sulfone gave only the m-nitro isomer in 78% isolated yield. Thus the new nitrating system gives high ...
