PRODUCTION OF 2-ALKANOYL-4-HALOGENO-6-NITROPHENOL

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To industrially and advantageously obtain the subject compound by reacting a 2-alkanoyl-4-halogenophenol with a nitrating agent in the presence of an alkali metal salt or an alkali metal hydroxide, not causing a heat generation induction period, useful as an intermediate for a medicine. SOLUTION: This compound of formula II (e.g. 5-chloro-2-hydroxy-3- nitroacetophenone, etc.) is obtained by reacting (A) a 2-alkanoyl-4-halogenophenol of formula II (R is a lower alkyl; X is a halogen) (e.g. 2-acetyl-4-chlorophenol, etc.) with (B) a nitrating agent (e.g. nitric acid) in the presence of (C) an alkali metal salt or an alkali metal hydroxide (e.g. sodium nitrite, etc.). For example, the amount of the component Bused is about 1-2mols based on 1mol of the component A and that of the component C is about 0.001-0.1mol. The reaction temperature is preferably about 30-80 deg.C.