peri-naphthylenediamines. 28. Nitration of 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene and 5,6-bis(dimethylamino)acenaphthene in neutral and weakly acidic media. The first case of isolation of o-nitro and o,o '-dinitro derivatives of "proton sponges"

o-Nitro and o.o'-dinitro derivatives of 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene a nd its acenaphthene analog were prepared for the first time by direct nitra tion with nitrogen dioxide or tetranitromethane. When 5,6-bis(dimethylamino )acenaphthene was treated with nitric acid in AcOH or MeCN or with nitroniu m tetrafluoroborate in MeCN, nitration was accompanied by partial demethyla tion of one of the NMe2 groups.