Abstract Rate data are reported for the reactions of a series of X-phenyl 2, 4, 6-trinitrophenyl ethers 1a–e [X= H, 4-NO 2, 2-NO 2, 2, 4-(NO 2) 2, or 2, 6-(NO 2) 2] with substituted anilines 2a–e [Y= H, 2-CH 3, 2, 4-(CH 3) 2, 2, 6-(CH 3) 2, or N-CH 3] in acetonitrile as solvent. For individual amine, kinetic data show that there is little steric hindrance to attack at the 1- position of the parent molecules, even in the presence of di-ortho substitution. With each ...