Liquid Aliphatic Nitro Compounds

The simplest aliphatic nitro compound is nitromethane. Liquid aliphatic nitro compounds also include nitroalkanes including multi nitro groups and carbon atoms. 

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Most aliphatic nitro compounds are liquids the physical properties (boiling point, density and refractive index) therefore provide valuable information for purposes of identification. 

When aliphatic nitro compounds are used instead of aldehydes or ketones, no reduction occurs, and the reaction has been referred to as a Tollens reaction (see 16-43). However, the classical condensation of an aliphatic nitro compound with an aldehyde or ketone is usually called the Henry reaction or the Kamlet reaction, and is essentially a nitro aldol reaction. A variety of conditions have been reported, including the use of a silica catalyst, Mg—A1 hydrotalcite, a tetraalkylam-monium hydroxide,proazaphosphatranes, " or an ionic liquid.A solvent free Henry reaction was reported in which a nitroalkane and an aldehyde were reacted on KOH powder. Potassium phosphate has been used with nitromethane and aryl aldehydes. The Henry reaction has been done using ZnEt2 and 20%... 

Mechanical sensitivity of the liquid aromatic nitro compounds is very lower and increased with the increase of the number nitro mechanical sensitivily of liquid nitro aliphatic compound is decreased with the increase of carbon atoms, and the mechanical sensitivity is dramatically increased with the increase of nitro group number on the same carbon atom for example, in nitromethane, its explosion limit is 7.3 % (volume) and its impact sensitivity is 0-8 % (hammer is 10 kg and characteristic drop height is 50 cm) mechanical sensitivity of nitro alcohol is lower than that of nitroalkane and aromatic nitro compounds. 

Group / Liquid aliphatics with relatively symmetrical substitutions around the main chain. Figure 5.1 shows an example of this in the compound 1,3-dinitro-propane. The nitro groups are at each end of the molecule, and the molecule is said to be symmetrical. Another example, given in Figure 5.2, is 2,2-dinitropro-pane. Here also, the substituents are symmetrically placed on the main chain. Also included in this group are those molecules that have two or more kinds of substituents, even if they are not placed exactly symmetrically. 

Liquid nitro explosives are mainly liquid nitro-containing aliphatics, aromatics and alcohols. Among these compounds, nitro alkane is a very important liquid explosive, which has a certain explosive power. Thus, nitro alkane is an important energy-containing component to produce liquid nitro explosive mixtures and also an important raw material for other nitro derivatives. Additionally, liquid nitro compounds also have applications very widely in the solvent and chemical industries. 

Water and salt solutions dilute acids and alkalis have little effect at room temperature but, at elevated temperatures, some hydrolysis and extraction of the plasticizer may occur. Concentrated acids and alkalis hydrolyse plasticizers slowly when cold but, more rapidly when heated. Most organic liquids will extract plasticizers and cause compound hardening however, some organic liquids also cause softening. For example, aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons, aliphatic and aromatic nitro compounds, ketones, aliphatic and cyclic... 

The chromato-polarographic analysis of a mixture of nitro-aliphatic compounds on Dowex 50. The percolating liquid is 1 M ammonium sulphate. According to W. Kemula. 

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