something i have been thinking of is the abnormal nitration of stryrene. the reaction is very exothermic and would require some sort of solvent to prevent the lachramatory nitrostyrene from boiling over and filing the lab with tear gas. would ethanol work? then could the nitronate sodium salt be formed by adding sodium ethoxide and phenylnitropropene be formed by adding a methylating agent? then could the phenylnitropropene be reduced electrolytically?