Nitration of toluene with N2O5 catalyzed by SiO2 anchored sulfonic acid (SiO2-SO3H)

SiO2 anchored sulfonic acid catalyst was prepared and used in the nitration of toluene with N2O5. The effects of catalyst amount, reaction temperature, reaction time and reusability of catalyst on yield and selectivity for the nitration of toluene were investigated. Under optimum conditions, the conversion of toluene was 95%, and the ratio of o/p is 1.3.