Phenyl-2-nitropropene

1-Phenyl-2-nitropropene
Names
IUPAC name
1-Phenyl-2-nitropropene
Other names
P2NP, β-methyl-β-nitropropene, (2-Nitro-1-propenyl)benzene
Identifiers
705-60-2 [1] 
ChemSpider 1266396 Yes
Jmol-3D images Image
PubChem 1549520
Properties
C9H9NO2
Molar mass 163.17 g mol−1
Appearance solid
Melting point 64 to 66 °C (147 to 151 °F; 337 to 339 K)
Hazards
EU classification Harmful (Xn)
R-phrases R22, R36/37/38
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
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Infobox references

Phenyl-2-nitropropene is a chemical compound with the chemical formula is C9H9NO2. It can be produced by the reaction of benzaldehyde and nitroethane in the presence of a basic catalyst. In this reaction, the base deprotonates nitroethane to form a resonance stabilized anion. This anion nucleophilically adds to the aldehyde forming a beta nitro alcohol, which is subsequently dehydrated to yield the nitroalkene. This reaction is known as a nitroaldol reaction. Phenyl-2-nitropropene can be reduced in the presence of a catalyst to produce phenylacetone, which is a controlled precursor of methamphetamine. However, with lithium aluminium hydride it can simply be reduced to directly form amphetamine and methamphetamine in high yields.

References