The reaction mechanisms for bromination and nitration of toluene are indicated in Figure 1 and Figure 2. The meta-bromotoluene and meta-nitrotoluene did not really form compared to the para-bromotoluene and para-nitrotoluene, which yielded the most product, because it did not form the most stable resonance structure with the carbocation at the methyl attachment like para-bromotoluene and para-nitrotoluene. On the other hand, ortho-bromotoluene and ortho-nitrotoluene has the same mechanism as para-nitrotoluene.
The bromination of toluene resulted in a yield of 0.790 g (4.62 mmol, 46.2%) major products and para-bromotoluene and ortho-bromotoluene, while the nitration of toluene had a yield of 0.646 g (4.71 mmol, 51.3%) para-bromotoluene and
The bromination of toluene resulted in a yield of 0.790 g (4.62 mmol, 46.2%) major products and para-bromotoluene and ortho-bromotoluene, while the nitration of toluene had a yield of 0.646 g (4.71 mmol, 51.3%) para-bromotoluene and