4-Nitrotoluene or ''para''-nitrotoluene is an

organic compound In chemistry, organic compounds are generally any chemical compounds that contain carbon-hydrogen or carbon-carbon bonds. Due to carbon's ability to catenate (form chains with other carbon atoms), millions of organic compounds are known. T ...

with the formula CH₃C₆H₄NO₂. It is a pale yellow solid. It is one of three isomers of

nitrotoluene Mononitrotoluene or nitrotoluene (MNT or NT), is any of three organic compounds with the formula C6H4(CH3)(NO2). They can be viewed as nitro derivatives of toluene or as methylated derivatives of nitrobenzene. Mononitrotoluene comes in three iso ...

Synthesis and reactions

Together with other isomers, 4-nitrotoluene is prepared by

nitration In organic chemistry, nitration is a general class of chemical processes for the introduction of a nitro group into an organic compound. The term also is applied incorrectly to the different process of forming nitrate esters between alcohols an ...

toluene Toluene (), also known as toluol (), is a substituted aromatic hydrocarbon. It is a colorless, water-insoluble liquid with the smell associated with paint thinners. It is a mono-substituted benzene derivative, consisting of a methyl group (CH3) a ...

, commonly using titanium(IV) nitrate. It undergoes the reactions typical for nitrobenzene derivatives, e.g.

hydrogenation Hydrogenation is a chemical reaction between molecular hydrogen (H2) and another compound or element, usually in the presence of a catalyst such as nickel, palladium or platinum. The process is commonly employed to reduce or saturate organ ...

gives ''p''-toluidine. Oxidation of the methyl substituent of 4-nitrotoluene has been extensively investigated. Depending on the conditions, oxidation yields 4-nitrobenzaldehyde diacetate, 4-nitrobenzenoic acid, and 4,4'-dinitrobibenzyl. Treatment of 4-nitrotoluene with bromine gives the 4-nitrobenzyl bromide.

Applications

The principal application involves its

sulfonation Aromatic sulfonation is an organic reaction in which a hydrogen atom on an arene is replaced by a sulfonic acid functional group in an electrophilic aromatic substitution. Aryl sulfonic acids are used as detergents, dye, and drugs. Stoichiometry a ...

to give the 4-nitrotoluene-2-sulfonic acid (with the –SO₃H group adjacent to methyl). This species can be oxidatively coupled to produce

stilbene Stilbene may refer to one of the two stereoisomers of 1,2-diphenylethene: * (''E'')-Stilbene (''trans'' isomer) * (''Z'')-Stilbene (''cis'' isomer) See also * Stilbenoid Stilbenoids are hydroxylated derivatives of stilbene. They have a C6– ...

derivatives, which are used as dyes. Representative derivatives include the molecular and

salt Salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl), a chemical compound belonging to the larger class of salts; salt in the form of a natural crystalline mineral is known as rock salt or halite. Salt is present in vast quant ...

forms of 4,4'-dinitroso- and the 4,4'-dinitro-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acids, e.g.

disodium 4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate Disodium 4,4′-dinitrostilbene-2,2′-disulfonate is an organic compound with the formula (O2NC6H3(SO3Na)CH)2. This salt is a common precursor to a variety of textile dyes and optical brighteners Preparation and reactions The synthesis of disod ...

Safety

Evidence exists for toxicity and

carcinogenicity A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide, or radiation that promotes carcinogenesis (the formation of cancer). This may be due to the ability to damage the genome or to the disruption of cellular metabolic processes. Several radioactive sub ...

in mice.

References

External links

CDC – NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards – p-Nitrotoluene
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nitrotoluene, 4- Nitrotoluenes