What Are the Major Products of Benzoic Acid and Hydroquinone Nitration?

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In the nitration of benzoic acid at higher temperatures, the formation of a 3,5-dinitro product is expected due to the meta-directing nature of benzoic acid. For hydroquinone, the major product is likely to be a nitro derivative, but the yield is low because nitric acid can also oxidize hydroquinone. The structure of hydroquinone suggests that the nitro group could attach to the ortho or para positions, but the oxidation hint indicates that a different product may form instead. Understanding the dual role of nitric acid is crucial for predicting the outcomes of these reactions. The discussion emphasizes the importance of temperature and the reactivity of the substrates in electrophilic nitration.
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Homework Statement


1) What other nitration products in a electrophilic nitration of benzoic acid would be formed if each reaction were carried out at a higher temperature?

2) The nitration of hydroquinone leads to a low yield of nitrohydroquinone. Propose the structure of the major product: HINT: nitric acid can also function as an oxidizing agent.

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution



Please correct me if I am wrong.
For #1: I think since it is at higher temperature, and benzoic acid is a meta director, the both meta position of the benzene ring will have NO2 attached to it so it will be a 3,5 - dinitro product.

For #2: I was thinking the structure of hydroquinone is [PLAIN]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hydroquinone.svg.[/URL] Since it has two hydroxide attached and they are all ortho/para director, i think the NO2 will be attached to all four remaining positions.

Can someone please help me out? Thanks.
 
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jkh4 said:
For #2: I was thinking the structure of hydroquinone is [PLAIN]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hydroquinone.svg.[/URL] Since it has two hydroxide attached and they are all ortho/para director, i think the NO2 will be attached to all four remaining positions.

Can someone please help me out? Thanks.


The hint said that nitric acid can also act as an oxidant. How might you use this hint?
 
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