Results Synthesis of Substrates. Most of the desired dinitrobenzoic acid derivatives, although previously unknown, were accessible by chromic acid oxidation of the corresponding substituted toluenes. However, oxidation of 4-methoxy-2, 6-dinitrotoluene was unsatisfactory. Accordingly, acid Io was obtained by an alternative approach, namely, the reaction of sodium methoxide with methyl 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzoate (VI) to effect ...