Nitration of o-cresol and some mono-, di-, and trimethyl derivatives in acetic anhydride at- 60° C gives 6-methyl-6-nitrocyclohexa-2, 4-dienones. The dienones are more labile than the isomeric 4-methyl-4-nitrocyclohexa-2, 5-dienones and, if the 2-position of the dienone is not blocked, undergo regiospecific rearrangement to 6-nitro-o-cresols. 2, 3, 6-Trimethyl-and 2, 3, 5, 6-tetramethylphenol also give a 2, 5-dienone with nitro attached to a secondary carbon.