Electrophilic Aromatic Nitration Using a Mixed Catalyst of Lithium, Molybdenum, Ytterbium on Silica Gel

A novel mixed catalyst of LiClO4 (15% w/w), Yb(OPf)(3) (15% w/w, Pf = perfluorooctanesulfonyl), MoO3 (15% w/w) on silica gel for electrophilic aromatic nitration reaction has been explored. The nitration reactions were accomplished by this mixed catalyst and nitric acid under solvent-free conditions. Moreover, the mixed catalyst can be easily recovered from the aqueous layer by heating in an oven and reused for the next nitration reaction