8-Methylquinoxalines are nitrated surprisingly efficiently at C-5 following a simple nitration protocol with mixed acid at 40-50° C. The implications of halogen functionalisation at C-6 and modification of the mixed acid conditions on the relative rates of conversion and process safety are discussed. Competing side reactions for 6-halo-8-methylquinoxalines involve hydrolysis at C-6 and halogenation at C-7 or C-5.
