2-Nitropropane (2-NP) is a
solvent
A solvent (s) (from the Latin '' solvō'', "loosen, untie, solve") is a substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution. A solvent is usually a liquid but can also be a solid, a gas, or a supercritical fluid. Water is a solvent for ...
. It is a colorless liquid and is classified as a
nitro compound.
Preparation
2-Nitropropane is produced by the high-temperature vapor-phase nitration of
propane
Propane () is a three-carbon alkane with the molecular formula . It is a gas at standard temperature and pressure, but compressible to a transportable liquid. A by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining, it is commonly used as ...
, usually with impurities of
1-nitropropane. 2-Nitropropane is also produced as a volatile by-product that can be captured during Leonard's ring-closure
hydantoin preparation.
Uses
2-Nitropropane is used as a solvent or additive in inks, paints, adhesives, varnishes, polymers, resins, fuel, and coatings.
It is also used as a feedstock for other industrial chemicals,
[ and also in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals such as phentermine, chlorphentermine, and teclozan. It serves as an ]oxidant
An oxidizing agent (also known as an oxidant, oxidizer, electron recipient, or electron acceptor) is a substance in a redox chemical reaction that gains or "Electron acceptor, accepts"/"receives" an electron from a (called the , , or ). In ...
in the Hass–Bender oxidation process.
Safety
2-Nitropropane is a constituent of tobacco smoke.[ and it is listed as an IARC Group 2B carcinogen.]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nitropropane, 2-
Nitroalkanes
Nitro solvents
Isopropyl compounds