Nitration Mechanism Formation of the nitronium ion. H:0 H--N=+H0-S-0-H=H-95N=+s0=0=N=0+H,6: nitronium ion Step 1:Electrophilic attack. Step 2:Loss of a proton. H H :0: H H H NH HSO> H,SO H H 0 H H H H benzene nitronium sigma complex nitrobenzene ion (resonance-delocalized) Nitration Mechanism