Predict the major product when pyridine is treated with a mixture of nitric acid and sulfuric acid.
A) 3-nitropyridine
B) 2-nitropyridine
C) 4-nitropyridine
D) 2,3-dinitropyridine
E) 4-aminopyridine

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Pyridine undergoes electrophilic substitution reactions with difficulty due to the electron-withdrawing nature of the nitrogen atom. Nitration typically occurs at the 3-position (meta to the nitrogen) because it is the least deactivated position.

Predict the Major Product When Pyridine Is Treated with a Mixture