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Nitro Compound

Nitro compound (Nitro-alkane and Nitrobenzene)

Organic compounds containing the nitro group as the functional group are called nitro compound. One or more hydrogen atoms of aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons are replaced by nitro group to from nitro compounds. They are classified into two categories:

  • Aliphatic nitro compounds[ R-NO2]: The compounds in which nitro group is attached to aliphatic hydrocarbon are called as aliphatic nitro compounds.

Example: 1-nitropropane, 2-nitrobutane etc.

  • Aromatic nitro compound:  The organic compounds which possess one or more nitro group attached to aromatic rings are called as aromatic nitro compounds.

Example: nitrobenzene, 1,3 dinitro-benzene etc.

 

  • Aliphatic nitro compounds are further classified into primary, secondary and tertiary nitroalkanes.

The carbon atom to which nitro group is attached may be primary, secondary or tertiary in nature. The Primary carbon atom possesses two free hydrogen atoms, secondary possess one free hydrogen atom and the tertiary carbon atom does not possess any free hydrogen atoms bonded to it. The nitroalkanes in which nitro group is attached to primary carbon atoms are Primary nitroalkanes. Similarly, if nitro group is attached to secondary and tertiary carbon, they are called secondary and tertiary nitroalkanes respectively.

  • NO2 is an ambident group and is capable of getting attached to the carbon chain through nitrogen (nitro alkane) as well as through oxygen(alkyl nitrile).

The chemical properties of these compounds are also quite different.

  • Aromatic Nitro compound

  • Acidic character of nitro-compound

Acidic character of a compound is defined as the tendency of the compound to lose the proton.

Nitro group are more acidic in nature because of its capacity to lose proton.

  • Nitroalkanes having alpha hydrogen are more acidic.
  • Nitroalkanes are more acidic than aldehyde, ketones, ester, cyanide, hydrocarbon.
  • Acidic nature: The acidic nature of the nitro group increases with no. of alpha hydrogen. Hence , the acidic nature is:

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