How will you convert toluene into sym-trinitrobenzene?

Explanation

To convert toluene into sym-trinitrobenzene, we can follow a systematic approach involving nitration and oxidation reactions. Here are the steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Nitration of Toluene**:
- Start with toluene (C6H5CH3).
- Perform nitration using a mixture of concentrated nitric acid (HNO3) and concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4). This generates the nitronium ion (NO2+), which is the active nitrating species.
- The methyl group (–CH3) in toluene is an ortho- and para-directing group, so the nitro group will predominantly add to the ortho and para positions.
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