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

NO2 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 Fe1.5Mn0.5–SZ and O2–Ac2O significantly improved the selectivity to 1,5-DNN.