Salicylic Acid Nitration by Means of Nitric Acid/Acetic Acid System: Chemical and Kinetic Characterization

The nitration of salicylic acid by means of HNO3/AcOH is investigated, and the results are compared with those obtained using different nitrating systems: HNO3/H2SO4/H2O ( mixed acid), HNO3/Ac2O/AcOH, aqueous HNO3 (70% by weight) at 343 K. Little differences are found in terms of yield of the desired product (5-nitrosalicylic acid) among HNO3/AcOH mixture, mixed acid, and HNO3/Ac2O/AcOH systems, aqueous HNO3 giving the poorest results. However according to the data collected during the present investigation the use of the system HNO3/AcOH presents some advantages with respect to the others for the separation and purity of desired product, waste minimization, and safety improvements. The reaction kinetics for the nitration of salicylic acid with this system is also investigated. A global second-order kinetic law (one for the substrate, one for nitric acid) is used in the analysis of the data collected for the formation of the two mononitroderivatives (3-nitro- and 5-nitrosalicylic acids) and of the side product 2-nitrophenol