Chemical Properties of Liquid Nitro Compounds

Nitroalkanes have acidic isomers and tautomerism, in which primary and secondary nitroalkane are acidic because their a-hydrogen atoms are influenced by the nitro group, and can be configured tautomerically into acidic structure. 

When equal amount of concentrated mineral acid and primary nitroalkane react, a carboxylic acid and a hydroxylamine salt are generated, generally with yield of up to 85-90 %. When sulfuric acid reacts with nitromethane [6], products are CO and hydroxylamine sulfate. The mixture from the reaction between anhydride sulfuric acid and a primary nitroalkane at 60 °C was poured into ice-water and then 

The yield of Nef reaction is generally up to 85 % (except for nitromethane). If the steric hindrance of this reaction is relatively large, the yield will be decreased significandy. 

Primary and secondary nitroalkane react with nitrous acid, in which a-hydrogen atoms will be substituted. 

The neutralization of nitrolic acid and will generate crimson salt. Pseudonitrol from the reaction between nitrous acid and secondary nitroalkane does not have a-hydrogen atoms, cannot be rearranged and also have no color development reaction, which could be used to distinguish primary and secondary nitroalkanes. 

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