The intermediates in the reactions of 2,4-dinitro-(2) or 2,4,5-trinitro-1-naphthyl ethyl ether (11) with secondary amines have been studied. In the reaction of 2 with piperidine, the NMR spectrum of the reaction system indicated the coexistence of the three species-starting material, Meisenheimer complex, and substituted product. In the reaction of 11 with piperidine or N-methyl-n-butylamine, the the