Question

Predict the product of the following reaction:

Answer 1

In electrophilic substitution, the alkoxy group activates the aromatic ring and directs the incoming group to the o- and p-positions. Therefore, the nitration of ethoxybenzene yields a mixture of 2-nitroethoxybenzene and 4-nitroethoxybenzene, with 4-nitroethoxybenzene being the major product due to steric hindrance at the 2-position.