The sulfonation of aromatic and heteroaromatic polycyclic compounds

Relative reactivities of a series of polycyclic carbo- and heteroaromatic compounds to sulfonation by Sulfur trioxide in nitrobenzene are measured and discussed. The results show the following reactivity in decreasing order indole, carbazole, pyrene, perylene, naphthalene, phenanthrene, benzene, benzothiophene, and dibenzothiophene. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.