Fe- and Mn-modified SO42−/ZrO2 conjoined O2–Ac2O as a composite catalytic system for highly selective nitration of 1-nitronaphthalene with NO2 to valuable 1,5-dinitronaphthalene

NO 2 as benign nitrating agent and Fe–Mn bimetallic modified SZ as catalyst replaced traditional nitric–sulfuric mixed acid systems for 1-NN nitration. The synergism of Fe 1.5 Mn 0.5 –SZ and O 2 –Ac 2 O significantly improved the selectivity to 1,5-DNN.