CAS 88-72-2: 2-Nitrotoluene

Applications 1-Methyl-2-nitrobenzene is a toxic pollutant of the environment because of its large scale use in the production of explosives. It is a useful synthetic intermediate. It shows carcinogenic activity in rats. Not a dangerous good if item is equal to or less than 1g/ml and there is less than 100g/ml in the package References Sikandar, M., et al.: Chemosphere, 90, 1920 (2013); Jones, C., et al.: Carcinogen., 24, 779 (2003)

This Thermo Scientific Chemicals brand product was originally part of the Acros Organics product portfolio. Some documentation and label information may refer to the legacy brand. The original Acros Organics product / item code or SKU reference has not changed as a part of the brand transition to Thermo Scientific Chemicals.

2-Nitrotoluene is a nitro compound that is carcinogenic and has been shown to produce liver lesions in experimental animals. It is an acidic, water-soluble liquid with a molecular weight of 114.17 g/mol. 2-Nitrotoluene has been shown to react with DNA polymerase II's α subunit, which leads to the inhibition of DNA synthesis and cell death. The reaction mechanism involves the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds between the nitro group on one molecule of 2-nitrotoluene and the deoxyribose sugar on another molecule. These intramolecular hydrogen bonds lead to a distortion in the shape of DNA polymerase II's α subunit, which prevents it from binding to DNA and hence inhibits its ability to synthesize new DNA strands. 2-Nitrotoluene also reacts with cellular proteins and lipid bilayers, leading to cell death by necrosis or apoptosis.

2-Nitrotoluene is used as an intermediate for the o-toludine synthesis, which finds application in the dyestuff industry. It is employed as a reagent in detecting and photometric determining oxidizing agent. It is also used in the determination of prussic acid content in the air. It acts as a precursor to prepare 2-amino-4-chlorotoluene, 2-amino-6-chlorotoluene, nitrotoluenesulfonic acids and toluene nitrosulfonic chlorides. It acts as a nitrogen supplement in the culture medium of pseudomonas sp. strain ClS1. It acts as a carbon and energy supplement in the culture medium of Pseudomonas sp. strain JS42. This Thermo Scientific Chemicals brand product was originally part of the Alfa Aesar product portfolio. Some documentation and label information may refer to the legacy brand. The original Alfa Aesar product / item code or SKU reference has not changed as a part of the brand transition to Thermo Scientific Chemicals.