Question

Nitration of phenyl benzoate yields the product

• A.
• B.
• C.
• D.

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Answer 2

It is an electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction. Because the $COO ^{-}$ acts as an electron withdrawing group to one phenyl group and a moderate electron donating group to the other phenyl group the nitration will occur on the phenyl group where $COO ^{-}$ is acting as an electron donating group. The major product of the nitration will have the $- NO _{2}$ in the para position because the ortho position is partially blocked by the large COPh group.