In this paper, the metal bis[(perfluoroalkyl)sulfonyl]imides [M(NPf₂)_n] were employed for nitration of aromatic compounds with 1 equiv. of 65% (m∶m) nitric acid as novel Lewis acid catalysts. The effects of Lewis acid catalysts, reaction time, temperature and medium on nitration of toluene, as well as the catalytic performance of nitration of aromatic compounds in the presence of 1 mol% Yb[N(C₄F₉SO₂)₂]₃ were investigated. All experimental results showed that metal bis[(perfluoroalkyl)sulfonyl]imides were not only environmentally friendly and atom economic, but also more effective for aromatic nitration than conven-tional Lewis acid catalysts.

Key words: nitration, Lewis acid, catalysis, metal bis[(perfluoroalkyl)sulfonyl]imide