468 CHEMISTRY AND TECHNOLOGY OF EXPLOSIVES
(15)The reactivity of the nitro groups in 1,4-dichloro-2,3-dinitrobenzene and 1,4-
dichloro-2,5-dinitrobenzene is exceptionally high, exceeding that of the chlorine
atom.
Thus, Körner [36] observed that when treated with ammonia the dinitro-isomer
having the NO 2 groups in the 2,3-positions is converted to dichloronitroanilinc.
Holleman found that with sodium alcoholate the compound yielded dichloronitro-
anisole :(16)Holleman believed the 2,5-isomer behaved in the same way at the first stage
of the reaction. Only by prolonged treatment with an alcoholate can a chlorine
atom be substituted, a resorcinol derivative being formed: