CAS 610-67-3: 1-Ethoxy-2-nitrobenzene

2-Nitrophenetole is an organic compound that is used as a reactant in analytical chemistry. It can be synthesized by the reaction of nitrobenzene with sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid. The reaction mechanism is similar to that of other quaternary ammonium salts. The activated 2-nitrophenetole reacts with chloride ions, producing a nitro group and hydrochloric acid. A halide ion then takes the place of the chloride ion, forming a new halide salt, which can be identified by its characteristic color. This process also produces hydrogen fluoride gas, which must be carefully removed from the reaction solution before it reacts with water to produce hydrofluoric acid. 2-Nitrophenetole has been shown to catalyze the conversion of hydroxide ions into hydrogen atoms in a reactive solution and therefore can be used as an efficient method for removing hydrogen ions from solution.