NITROBENZENE AND NITROTOLUENES

Nitrobenzene [98-95-3] (oil of mirbane), C H N02, is a pale yeUow liquid with an odor that resembles bitter almonds. Depending on the purity, its color varies from pale yellow to yellowish brown. 

Nitrobenzene was first synthesized in 1834 by treating benzene with fuming nitric acid (1), and was first produced commercially in England in 1856 (2). The relative ease of aromatic nitration has contributed significantly to the large and varied industrial appHcations of nitrobenzene, other aromatic nitro compounds, and their derivatives. 

Physical Properties. Nitrobenzene is readily soluble in most organic solvents and is completely miscible with diethyl ether and benzene. Nitrobenzene is only slightly soluble in water with a solubiUty of 0.19 parts pet 100 parts of water at 20°C and 0.8 pph at 80°C. Nitrobenzene is a good organic solvent. For example, it is used in Friedel-Crafts reactions because aluminum chloride is soluble in nitrobenzene. The physical properties of nitrobenzene are summarized in Table 1. 

Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology (4th Edition) 

H2 + metal catalyst + heat (gas phase or solution) aniline 

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AMNES - AMINES, AROMATIC - ANILINE AND ITS DERIVATIVES] (Vol 2) -reduction of nitrobenzene NITROBENZENE AND NITROTOLUENES] (Vol 17)... 

Mixtures of HNO, H2SO4, and SO also result in high concentrations of NO/, and toluene can be readily nitrated at —40 to — 10°C as a result (6). At these low temperatures, the formation of the meta-isomer of mononitrotoluene (MNT) is greatiy reduced. Such a reduction is highly desired in the production both of dinitrotoluenes (DNTs) employed to produce intermediates for polyurethane production and of trinitrotoluene (TNT), which is a high explosive. > -MNT results in the production of undesired DNT and TNT isomers (see Nitrobenzene and nitrotoluenes). 

Nitrobenzene and nitrotoluenes that are manufactured are converted to aniline, isocyanates, and other products used in the production of dyes and pharmaceuticals. 

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