Nitration of aromatic compounds

Aromatic nitration is the simplest industrial method for introducing a nitrogen group onto an aromatic hydrocarbon. This technique produces nitroaromatic compounds, which can be interesting as such, but are essentially intermediate compounds.

Of all these possible subsequent uses, the most important is undoubtedly the reduction of the nitroaromatic group to aniline, the source of an extremely varied chemistry. Products derived from this chemistry can be found in every field: agrochemicals (whether insecticides or herbicides), pharmaceuticals, polyurethane polymers, colorants, stabilizers, UV stabilizers, and more.

The aim of this article is to describe the main aspects of nitration chemistry. The last ten years have seen the emergence of a new adiabatic process for the nitration of benzene, as well as the development of new techniques for fine chemicals.