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.