Synthesis Problem

The Third Step

You have nitrated benzoic acid. Since this compound has a meta-directing group (carboxyl) on the benzene ring, only the meta-nitro product will be obtained (formula shown to the right). Note that the relative orientation of the two groups is exactly that required in the target compound.

Can this compound, 3-nitrobenzoic acid, be converted to the target molecule by bromination?

Start again.