Nitroethane

Last updated
Nitroethane
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Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Nitroethane
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.001.081 OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
KEGG
PubChem CID
RTECS number
  • KI5600000
UNII
UN number UN 2842
  • InChI=1S/C2H5NO2/c1-2-3(4)5/h2H2,1H3 Yes check.svgY
    Key: MCSAJNNLRCFZED-UHFFFAOYSA-N Yes check.svgY
  • InChI=1/C2H5NO2/c1-2-3(4)5/h2H2,1H3
    Key: MCSAJNNLRCFZED-UHFFFAOYAB
  • CC[N+](=O)[O-]
Properties
C2H5NO2
Molar mass 75.067 g·mol−1
AppearanceColorless liquid
Density 1.054 g/cm3
Melting point −51 °C (−60 °F; 222 K)
Boiling point 114 °C (237 °F; 387 K)
Slightly soluble (4.6 g/100 ml at 20 °C)
Vapor pressure 21 mmHg (25 °C) [1]
Acidity (pKa)16.7 [2] [3]
-35.4·10−6 cm3/mol
Viscosity 0.677 mPa·s at 20 °C
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards
Flammable, harmful
GHS labelling:
GHS-pictogram-flamme.svg GHS-pictogram-skull.svg GHS-pictogram-silhouette.svg
Danger
H226, H302, H315, H331, H341, H412
P210, P261, P301, P304, P312, P330, P340, P370, P378, P403+P233
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
2
3
3
Flash point 28 °C (82 °F; 301 K)
Explosive limits 3.4%-? [1]
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
5000 ppm (rabbit, 2 hr) [4]
6250 ppm (mouse, 2 hr) [4]
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)
TWA 100 ppm (310 mg/m3) [1]
REL (Recommended)
TWA 100 ppm (310 mg/m3) [1]
IDLH (Immediate danger)
1000 ppm [1]
Safety data sheet (SDS) MSDS at fishersci.com
Related compounds
2-Nitropropane
Nitromethane
Related compounds
 Ethyl nitrite
Ethyl nitrate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Nitroethane is an organic compound having the chemical formula C2H5NO2. Similar in many regards to nitromethane, nitroethane is an oily liquid at standard temperature and pressure. Pure nitroethane is colorless and has a fruity odor.

Contents

Preparation

Nitroethane is produced industrially by treating propane with nitric acid at 350–450 °C. This exothermic reaction produces four industrially significant nitroalkanes: nitromethane, nitroethane, 1-nitropropane, and 2-nitropropane. The reaction involves free radicals, such as CH3CH2CH2O., which arise via homolysis of the corresponding nitrite ester. These alkoxy radicals are susceptible to C—C fragmentation reactions, which explains the formation of a mixture of products. [5]

Alternatively, nitroethane can be produced by the Victor Meyer reaction of haloethanes such as chloroethane, bromoethane, or iodoethane with silver nitrite in diethyl ether or THF. The Kornblum modification of this reaction uses sodium nitrite in either a dimethyl sulfoxide or dimethylformamide solvent. [6]

Uses

Via condensations like the Henry reaction, nitroethane converts to several compounds of commercial interest. Condensation with 3,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde affords the precursor to the antihypertensive drug methyldopa; condensation with unsubstituted benzaldehyde yields phenyl-2-nitropropene, a precursor for amphetamine drugs. Nitroethane condenses with two equivalents of formaldehyde to give, after hydrogenation, 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, which in turn condenses with oleic acid to give an oxazoline, which protonates to give a cationic surfactant. [5]

Like some other nitrated organic compounds, nitroethane is also used as a fuel additive and a precursor to Rocket propellants.

Nitroethane is a useful solvent for polymers such as polystyrene and is particularly useful for dissolving cyanoacrylate adhesives. In cosmetics applications, it has been used as a component in artificial nail remover and in overhead ceiling sealant sprays.

Nitroethane was previously used successfully as a chemical feedstock (precursor ingredient) in laboratories for the synthesis of multitudes of substances and consumer goods. For example, the medicine Pervitin (methamphetamine) was commonly used in the 19th and 20th century, and was especially popular during WWII by troops of both sides for mood elevation, appetite and sleep suppression and increasing focus and alertness). Nitroalkanes were one of many ingredients used in the synthesis of many phenethylamines, including medications such as Pervitin and the racemic compound Benzedrine [7] (amphetamine), used as an anorectic medicine for obesity. [8]

Toxicity

Nitroethane is suspected to cause genetic damage and be harmful to the nervous system. Typical TLV/TWA is 100 ppm. Typical STEL is 150 ppm. Skin contact causes dermatitis in humans. In animal studies, nitroethane exposure was observed to cause lacrimation, dyspnea, pulmonary rales, edema, liver and kidney injury, and narcosis. [9] Children have been poisoned by accidental ingestion of artificial nail remover. [10]

The LD50 for rats is reported as 1100 mg/kg. [11]

Related Research Articles

Nitromethane, sometimes shortened to simply "nitro", is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH
3NO
2. It is the simplest organic nitro compound. It is a polar liquid commonly used as a solvent in a variety of industrial applications such as in extractions, as a reaction medium, and as a cleaning solvent. As an intermediate in organic synthesis, it is used widely in the manufacture of pesticides, explosives, fibers, and coatings. Nitromethane is used as a fuel additive in various motorsports and hobbies, e.g. Top Fuel drag racing and miniature internal combustion engines in radio control, control line and free flight model aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dimethyl sulfoxide</span> Organosulfur chemical compound used as a solvent

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is an organosulfur compound with the formula (CH3)2SO. This colorless liquid is the sulfoxide most widely used commercially. It is an important polar aprotic solvent that dissolves both polar and nonpolar compounds and is miscible in a wide range of organic solvents as well as water. It has a relatively high boiling point. DMSO has the unusual property that many individuals perceive a garlic-like taste in the mouth after DMSO makes contact with their skin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nitro compound</span> Organic compound containing an −NO₂ group

In organic chemistry, nitro compounds are organic compounds that contain one or more nitro functional groups. The nitro group is one of the most common explosophores used globally. The nitro group is also strongly electron-withdrawing. Because of this property, C−H bonds alpha (adjacent) to the nitro group can be acidic. For similar reasons, the presence of nitro groups in aromatic compounds retards electrophilic aromatic substitution but facilitates nucleophilic aromatic substitution. Nitro groups are rarely found in nature. They are almost invariably produced by nitration reactions starting with nitric acid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Methyl formate</span> Chemical compound

Methyl formate, also called methyl methanoate, is the methyl ester of formic acid. The simplest example of an ester, it is a colorless liquid with an ethereal odour, high vapor pressure, and low surface tension. It is a precursor to many other compounds of commercial interest.

Methylamine is an organic compound with a formula of CH3NH2. This colorless gas is a derivative of ammonia, but with one hydrogen atom being replaced by a methyl group. It is the simplest primary amine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethyl acetate</span> Organic compound (CH₃CO₂CH₂CH₃)

Ethyl acetate is the organic compound with the formula CH3CO2CH2CH3, simplified to C4H8O2. This colorless liquid has a characteristic sweet smell and is used in glues, nail polish removers, and in the decaffeination process of tea and coffee. Ethyl acetate is the ester of ethanol and acetic acid; it is manufactured on a large scale for use as a solvent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2-Butanol</span> Secondary alcohol

2-Butanol, or sec-butanol, is an organic compound with formula CH3CH(OH)CH2CH3. Its structural isomers are 1-butanol. isobutanol, and tert-butanol. 2-Butanol is chiral and thus can be obtained as either of two stereoisomers designated as (R)-(−)-2-butanol and (S)-(+)-2-butanol. It is normally encountered as a 1:1 mixture of the two stereoisomers — a racemic mixture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hexamethylphosphoramide</span> Chemical compound

Hexamethylphosphoramide, often abbreviated HMPA, is a phosphoramide (an amide of phosphoric acid) with the formula [(CH3)2N]3PO. This colorless liquid is a useful reagent in organic synthesis.

Dimethylamine is an organic compound with the formula (CH3)2NH. This secondary amine is a colorless, flammable gas with an ammonia-like odor. Dimethylamine is commonly encountered commercially as a solution in water at concentrations up to around 40%. An estimated 270,000 tons were produced in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isobutanol</span> Chemical compound

Isobutanol (IUPAC nomenclature: 2-methylpropan-1-ol) is an organic compound with the formula (CH3)2CHCH2OH (sometimes represented as i-BuOH). This colorless, flammable liquid with a characteristic smell is mainly used as a solvent either directly or as its esters. Its isomers are 1-butanol, 2-butanol, and tert-butanol, all of which are important industrially.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thiophenol</span> Chemical compound

Thiophenol is an organosulfur compound with the formula C6H5SH, sometimes abbreviated as PhSH. This foul-smelling colorless liquid is the simplest aromatic thiol. The chemical structures of thiophenol and its derivatives are analogous to phenols. An exception is the oxygen atom in the hydroxyl group (-OH) bonded to the aromatic ring is replaced by a sulfur atom. The prefix thio- implies a sulfur-containing compound and when used before a root word name for a compound which would normally contain an oxygen atom, in the case of 'thiol' that the alcohol oxygen atom is replaced by a sulfur atom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Propan-1-ol</span> Primary alcohol compound

Propan-1-ol is a primary alcohol with the formula CH3CH2CH2OH and sometimes represented as PrOH or n-PrOH. It is a colourless liquid and an isomer of 2-propanol. It is formed naturally in small amounts during many fermentation processes and used as a solvent in the pharmaceutical industry, mainly for resins and cellulose esters, and, sometimes, as a disinfecting agent.

Benzyl chloride, or α-chlorotoluene, is an organic compound with the formula C6H5CH2Cl. This colorless liquid is a reactive organochlorine compound that is a widely used chemical building block.

Ethylamine, also known as ethanamine, is an organic compound with the formula CH3CH2NH2. This colourless gas has a strong ammonia-like odor. It condenses just below room temperature to a liquid miscible with virtually all solvents. It is a nucleophilic base, as is typical for amines. Ethylamine is widely used in chemical industry and organic synthesis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crotonaldehyde</span> Chemical compound

Crotonaldehyde is a chemical compound with the formula CH3CH=CHCHO. The compound is usually sold as a mixture of the E- and Z-isomers, which differ with respect to the relative position of the methyl and formyl groups. The E-isomer is more common (data given in Table is for the E-isomer). This lachrymatory liquid is moderately soluble in water and miscible in organic solvents. As an unsaturated aldehyde, crotonaldehyde is a versatile intermediate in organic synthesis. It occurs in a variety of foodstuffs, e.g. soybean oils.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phenyl-2-nitropropene</span> Chemical compound

1-Phenyl-2-nitropropene, or simply phenyl-2-nitropropene, or P2NP, as it is commonly referred to, is a chemical compound from the aromatic group of compounds, with the formula C9H9NO2. It is a light-yellow crystalline solid with a distinct smell. Phenyl-2-nitropropene is used in the pharmaceutical industry to manufacture the drug Adderall, an amphetamine mixture used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. P2NP and other similar nitrostyrenes are also employed in the clandestine manufacture of drugs of the amphetamine class, and are listed as drug precursors in many countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chloroacetaldehyde</span> Chemical compound

Chloroacetaldehyde is an organic compound with the formula ClCH2CHO. Like some related compounds, it is highly electrophilic reagent and a potentially dangerous alkylating agent. The compound is not normally encountered in the anhydrous form, but rather as the hemiacetal (ClCH2CH(OH))2O.

4,4′-Methylenedianiline (MDA) is an organic compound with the formula CH2(C6H4NH2)2. It is a colorless solid, although commercial samples can appear yellow or brown. It is produced on an industrial scale, mainly as a precursor to polyurethanes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diethylethanolamine</span> Chemical compound

Diethylethanolamine (DEAE) is a chemical compound with the molecular formula C6H15NO. It is used as a precursor in the production of a variety of chemical commodities such as the local anesthetic procaine. It can be reacted with 4-aminobenzoic acid to make procaine. DEAE can be used as a precursor for DEAE-cellulose resin, which is commonly used in ion exchange chromatography. DEAE can also be conveniently obtained from renewable sources. It is chemically stable and able to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from its surroundings. In solution, it can decrease the surface tension of water when the temperature is increased.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1-Nitropropane</span> Chemical compound

1-Nitropropane (1-NP) is a solvent. It is a colorless liquid, an isomer of 2-nitropropane (2-NP), and classified as a nitro compound.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0453". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  2. ↑ Reich, Hans. "Bordwell pKa table: "Nitroalkanes"". University of Wisconsin Chemistry Department. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  3. ↑ Matthews, Walter; et al. (1975). "Equilibrium acidities of carbon acids. VI. Establishment of an absolute scale of acidities in dimethyl sulfoxide solution". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 97 (24): 7006. doi:10.1021/ja00857a010.
  4. 1 2 "Nitroethane". Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  5. 1 2 Sheldon B. Markofsky “Nitro Compounds, Aliphatic” in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2002. doi : 10.1002/14356007.a17_401.
  6. ↑ Agrawal, Jai (2007). Organic Chemistry of Explosives. Chichester, England: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 7–10. ISBN   9780470029671.
  7. ↑ "2016 National Drug Assessment Summary" (PDF). Drug Administration. November 2016.
  8. ↑ "2016 National Drug Assessment Summary" (PDF). Drug Administration. November 2016.
  9. ↑ "Chemical Sampling Information Nitroethane." Retrieved February 9, 2007, from the website of the US Occupational Safety & Health Administration.
  10. ↑ Hornfeldt CS, Rabe WH (1994). "Nitroethane poisoning from an artificial fingernail remover". J. Toxicol. Clin. Toxicol. 32 (3): 321–4. doi:10.3109/15563659409017967. PMID   8007041.
  11. ↑ MSDS for nitroethane (revised October 3, 2005), as reported by Fisher Scientific.
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