Nitration of p-chloro-, p-fluoro-, and p-bromo-phenol or the corresponding p-halophenyl acetates at t-40° C and below gives the 4-halo-4-nitrocyclohexa-2, 5-dienones in addition to the 4-halo-2-nitrophenols. The dienones isomerize to the nitrophenols at temperatures between− 40° C and 0° C. Nitration of 4-chloro-2-methylphenol or its acetate gives both 4- chloro-2-methyl-4-nitrocyclohexa-2, 5-dienone and 4-chloro-6-methyl-6-nitrocyclohexa-2, ...