Nitro indicators

The nitro indicators. Nitro indicators as a rule possess a colorless acid form whereas, in alkaline solutions, they exhibit a more or less intense yellow color. One of the best known examples of this group is p-nitrophenol, the color change of which may be described in the following manner ... 

The following compounds may likewise be included with the nitro indicators 2,5-dinitrohydroquinone, dinitrobenzoylurea, isopicramic acid, nitramine, trinitrobenzene, trinitrobenzoic acid, and trinitrotoluene. 

The influence of neutral salts and proteins on the transformation range will be considered in great detail in connection with the colorimetric determination of hydrogen ion concentration (Chapter Ten). In the same chapter will be reported the results of L. Michaelis and M. Mizutani, who have measured the dissociation constants of the nitro indicators in solutions of differing alcohol concentrations. 

Coloured salts loith alkalis. Dissolve a few crystals of o-nitro-phenol in a few ml. of 10% NaOH solution. An orange-coloured solution is produced, and becomes almost colourless on the addition of acids. Alkali restores the orange coloration, and so the solution exhibits the properties of an indicator. 

Reduction to aminophenol. Reduce about 0 5 g. of o-nitrophenol with cone. HCl and tin as described on p. 385. After a few minutes the yellow molten o-nitrophenol disappears completely, the solution becoming homogeneous and colourless due to the formation of 0-aminophenol (which is soluble in HCl). Cool and add 30% aqueous NaOH solution note that a white precipitate is first formed and then redissolvcs in an excess of NaOH, and that the solution does not develop an orange coloration, indicating that the nitro-group has been reduced. 

It should be noted that only representative substances are indicated in the above list. Substituted derivatives of the compounds in most classes may be encountered, e.g., nitrobenzoic acid in the aromatic carboxylic acids (p. 347). This acid will contain CH(0)N, but the salient properties are still those of a carboxylic acid, CH(0), Section 14, although the properties of an aromatic nitro-compound (e.g.y reduction to an amino-compound) will also be evident. 

Fif rea given before the M.ps. of Nitro derivatives indicate position of nitro groups. 

Dissolve 0-5 g. of the substance in 10 ml. of 50 per cent, alcohol, add 0-5 g. of solid ammonium chloride and about 0 -5 g. of zinc powder. Heat the mixture to boiling, and allow the ensuing chemical reaction to proceed for 5 minutes. Filter from the excess of zinc powder, and teat the filtrate with Tollen s reagent Section 111,70, (i). An immediate black or grey precipitate or a silver mirror indicates the presence of a hydroxyl-amine formed by reduction of the nitro compound. Alternatively, the filtrate may be warmed with Fehling s solution, when cuprous oxide will be precipitated if a hydroxylamine is present. Make certain that the original compound does not aflfect the reagent used. 

That some modification to the position so far described might be necessary was indicated by some experiments of Nesmeyanov and his co-workers. Amongst other compounds they nitrated phenyl trimethyl ammonium and triphenyloxonium tetrafluoroborates with mixed acid the former gave 96 % of m- and 4 % of -nitro compound (88 % total yield), whilst the latter gave 80% of the tri-(p-nitrophenyl)oxonium salt. Ridd and his co-workers have made a quantitative study of the phenyl trimethyl ammonium ion. Their results, and those of other recent workers on the nitration of several cations, are collected in table 9.3. 

A silicon atom might be expected to release electrons inductively, but because of empty 7-orbitals shows the overall character ( + 7 —717). Nitration of trimethylsilylbenzene with nitric acid in acetic anhydride at —10 to o °C gives 25-5,39-8,30-2 and 6-8 %, respectively, of 0-, m-, and /)-nitro-trimethylsilylbenzene and nitrobenzene, with a rate of reaction relative to that of benzene of about 1-5. The figures give no indication of an important conjugative effect. 

In the literature, nevertheless, most of the authors indicate para-nitro products (126, 251, 252). 

Analytical and Test Methods. o-Nitrotoluene can be analyzed for purity and isomer content by infrared spectroscopy with an accuracy of about 1%. -Nitrotoluene content can be estimated by the decomposition of the isomeric toluene diazonium chlorides because the ortho and meta isomers decompose more readily than the para isomer. A colorimetric method for determining the content of the various isomers is based on the color which forms when the mononitrotoluenes are dissolved in sulfuric acid (45). From the absorption of the sulfuric acid solution at 436 and 305 nm, the ortho and para isomer content can be deterrnined, and the meta isomer can be obtained by difference. However, this and other colorimetric methods are subject to possible interferences from other aromatic nitro compounds. A titrimetric method, based on the reduction of the nitro group with titanium(III) sulfate or chloride, can be used to determine mononitrotoluenes (32). Chromatographic methods, eg, gas chromatography or high pressure Hquid chromatography, are well suited for the deterrnination of mononitrotoluenes as well as its individual isomers. Freezing points are used commonly as indicators of purity of the various isomers. 

The effect of substituents on the reactivity of heterocyclic nuclei is broadly similar to that on benzene. Thus mem-directing groups such as methoxycarbonyl and nitro are deactivating. The effects of strongly activating groups such as amino and hydroxy are difficult to assess since simple amino compounds are unstable and hydroxy compounds exist in an alternative tautomeric form. Comparison of the rates of formylation and trifiuoroacetylation of the parent heterocycle and its 2-methyl derivative indicate the following order of sensitivity to substituent effects furan > tellurophene > selenophene = thiophene... 

Synthesis of bicuculline and nitroadlumine. Groenewoud and Robinson synthesised bicuculline by the general method devised by Hope and Robinson, the initial products in this case being 6-nitro-3 4-methylene-dioxyphthalide (IV) prepared by a new method from normeconin, and hydrastinine (V). The condensation produet, called nitro-a -bicuculline (the X indicating that the dZ-product eannot yet be allocated to the a- or )3-stereoisomeric series cf. synthesis of hydrastine, p. 167), forms minute yellow needles, sinters at 176° and decomposes at 179°. It was reduced to amino-a -bicuculline (I R = NHj), yellow prisms, m.p. 208—4°, the latter... 

Catalytic reduction of fluormated aliphatic and aromatic nitro compounds to give oximes and amines was described previously, as was the use of dissolving metals to prepare amines [Si] Refmement of these techniques has resulted in optimized yields and, as indicated in equations 69 and 70, in selective reductions [S6, 87]... 

The presence of nitrogen may indicate an ammonium salt, ori auib base amine or alkaloid), amino add, amide, tya/dde, socy(7nide, oxime, nitroso- or nitro-compound, azo-tomponitd, etc. 

Equations 1-10 illustrate some mild methods that can be used to cleave amides. Equations 1 and 2 indicate the conditions that were used by Woodward and Eschenmoser, respectively, in their synthesis of vitamin B12. Butyl nitrite, nitrosyl chloride, and nitrosonium tetrafluoroborate (NO BF4 ) have also been used to cleave amides. Since only tertiary amides are cleaved by potassium -butoxide (eq. 3), this method can be used to effect selective cleavage of tertiary amides in the presence of primary or secondary amides.(Esters, however, are cleaved by similar conditions.) Photolytic cleavage of nitro amides (eq. 4) is discussed in a review. 

Radicaloid substitution has not been extensively studied in the thiophene series. Molecular orbital calculations indicate that substitution should occur in the a-position. This has been found to be the case in the Gomberg-Bachmann coupling of diazohydroxides with thiophenes which has been used for the preparation of 2-(o-nitro-phenyl) thiophene, 2-(p-toluyl) thiophene, " " and 2-(p-chloro-phenyl)thiophene. " Coupling in the /8-position has been used for the preparation of 1,3-dimethyl-4,5-benzisothionaphthene (148) from 2-amino-tt-(2,5-dimethyl-3-thienyl)cinnamic acid (149). A recent investigation describes the homolytic phenylation of 2- and 3-phenyl-... 

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