Nitration of substituted (1??deaza) purines using a mixture of tetrabutylammonium nitrate (TBAN) and trifluoracetic acid anhydride (TFAA) was applied to prepare nitrosubstituted (1?? deaza) purines at low temperature. The nitro group influences the system twofold: 1) it activates other substituents towards nucleophilic aromatic substitution and 2) it can be substituted itself leading to a variety of di??substituted (1??deaza) purines, also via solid ...