Nitration of polyalkylbenzenes is of interest not only because the reaction provides good derivatives for identification of these hydrocarbons, but also because of the curious attack upon the side chain, leading to the formation of nitrates, which often accompanies it. Bromination, on the other hand, while a smooth reaction, does not lead to good derivatives in the polymethylbenzene series, because the isomeric polybromo derivatives of these ...
