|   | |
| Names | |
|---|---|
| Preferred IUPAC name 1-Methyl-4-nitrobenzene | |
| Other names p-nitrotoluene  p-mononitrotoluene p-methylnitrobenzene | |
| Identifiers | |
| 3D model (JSmol) | |
| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.002.553 | 
|  PubChem CID | |
| UNII | |
|  CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |
| 
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| 
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| Properties | |
| C7H7NO2 | |
| Molar mass | 137.138 g·mol−1 | 
| Appearance | crystalline solid [1] | 
| Odor | weak, aromatic [1] | 
| Density | 1.1038 g·cm−3 (75 °C) [2] | 
| Melting point | 51.63 °C (124.93 °F; 324.78 K) [2] | 
| Boiling point | 238.3 °C (460.9 °F; 511.4 K) [2] | 
| 0.04% (20°C) [1] | |
| Vapor pressure | 0.1 mmHg (20°C) [1] | 
| −72.06·10−6 cm3/mol | |
| Hazards | |
| Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH): | |
| Main hazards | moderately toxic | 
| Flash point | 106 °C; 223 °F; 379 K [1] | 
| Explosive limits | 1.6%–? [1] | 
| Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |
| LD50 (median dose) | 1231 mg/kg (mouse, oral) 1330 mg/kg (rat, oral) 1450 mg/kg (rabbit, oral) [3] | 
| NIOSH (US health exposure limits): | |
|  PEL (Permissible) | TWA 5 ppm (30 mg/m3) [skin] [1] | 
|  REL (Recommended) | TWA 2 ppm (11 mg/m3) [skin] [1] | 
|  IDLH (Immediate danger) | 200 ppm [1] | 
| Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
4-Nitrotoluene or para-nitrotoluene is an organic compound with the formula CH3C6H4NO2. It is a pale yellow solid. It is one of three isomers of nitrotoluene.
Together with other isomers, 4-nitrotoluene is prepared by nitration of toluene, [4] commonly using titanium(IV) nitrate. [5] It undergoes the reactions typical for nitrobenzene derivatives, e.g. hydrogenation gives p-toluidine.
Oxidation of the methyl substituent of 4-nitrotoluene has been extensively investigated. Depending on the conditions, oxidation yields 4-nitrobenzaldehyde diacetate, [6] 4-nitrobenzenoic acid, [7] and 4,4'-dinitrobibenzyl. [8] Treatment of 4-nitrotoluene with bromine gives the 4-nitrobenzyl bromide. [9]
The principal application involves its sulfonation to give the 4-nitrotoluene-2-sulfonic acid (with the –SO3H group adjacent to methyl). This species can be oxidatively coupled to produce stilbene derivatives, [10] which are used as dyes. [11] Representative derivatives include the molecular and salt forms of 4,4'-dinitroso- and the 4,4'-dinitro-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acids, e.g. disodium 4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate. [12]
Evidence exists for toxicity and carcinogenicity in mice. [13]