An Interpretation of the Puzzling Dichotomy of the Reaction Modes Observed during the Side-chain Nitration of Alkylaromatics with HNO<sub>3</sub>/CH<sub>2</sub>Cl<sub>2</sub>and HNO<sub>3</sub>/(CH<sub>3</sub>CO)<sub>2</sub>O
Nitration of substituted pentamethylbenzenes has been carried out under various conditions using the title nitrating systems in order to elucidate the peculiar dependence of the modes of side-chainsubstitution on the reagent employed; nitrooxylation with HNO3/CH2Cl2 and nitration with HNO3/(CH3CO)2O. Based on the evidence obtained fromproduct variations with substituents, electrochemical nitrodecarboxylation