The successful mononitration of a variety of electron-rich aromatic substrates is reported, employing either nitronium tetrafluoroborate or "claycop" as the nitrating agent. Dinitration of four of the substrates was achieved when employing nitronium tetrafluoroborate. Several of the products have previously been prepared only by indirect methods. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.