Answer:
The electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction nitration is used to nitrate methyl benzoate and acetanilide with a nitronium ion. Crystallization was used to purify the product. The melting point was used to determine its purity and the regiochemistry of the products.
Explanation:
Methyl m-Nitrobenzoate is formed in this
reaction rather that ortho/para isomers
because of the ester group of your starting
product of methylbenzoate. The functional
group of ester is a electron withdrawing group
causing nitrobenzene (N02) to become in the
meta position. Thus N02 is a deactivating
group causing itself to be a meta director.
Basically you must look at the substituents
that are attached to your starting benzene ring
in order to figure out whether your reaction
with be ortho/para directors or meta
directors. If the substituents are electron
withdrawing groups then you will be left with
meta as your product but if your substituents
are electron donating groups then your
product will be ortho/para.
