1-Sulfopyridinium nitrate was synthesized as a potent nitrating agent for the nitration of arenes without the need for any co-catalysts. A variety of nitro compounds were synthesized and fully characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal gravimetry (DTG), CHN analysis and mass spectroscopy. Mechanistically, in situ generated nitrogen dioxide as a radical from the reagent is proposed for the presented nitration protocol.
