Reaction of 2-t-butyl-4,6-dimethylphenol(10) with nitrogen dioxide in benzene gives the C4-epimeric 4,5,6-trinitrocyclohex-2-enones (13) and (14). In contrast, similar reaction of 2,4-di-t-butyl-6-methyl-phenol (11) gives substituted cyclohex-3-enones, 2,5,6-trinitro ketones (20)- (23), 2-hydroxy-5,6-dinitro ketones (27) and (28) and the 6-hydroxy- 2,5-dinitro ketone (29). Reaction of 2,4,6-tri-t-butylphenol (12) with nitrogen dioxide gives initially the 4-nitro dienone (35), but de-t- butylated products (36) and (37) are formed in long-term reactions. X- ray crystal structures are reported for compounds (13),(14),(21),(22), (23), (27), (28) and (29).