100-00-5

p-Chloronitrobenzene is extensively used in different industries as an intermediate in the manufacture of dyes, rubber, and agricultural chemicals. It is incompatible with strong oxidizers and alkalis

Light yellow crystalline solid. Density 1.520 g/cm3. Melting point 83°C. Sweet odor. Very toxic by inhalation, ingestion, and skin absorption.

P-NITROCHLOROBENZENE(100-00-5) reacts with oxidizing agents. Reacts violently and finally explosively when added to a solution of sodium methoxide in methanol. . Unstable when heated.

Insoluble in water.

A questionable carcinogen. Very toxic by inhalation and ingestion. Absorbed via skin. Combustible. Methemoglobinemia.

Repeated exposure to high levels of p-chloronitrobenzene causes adverse health effects. The symptoms of toxicity include, but are not limited to, anoxia, unpleasant taste, anemia, methemoglobinemia, hematuria (blood in the urine), spleen, kidney, bone marrow changes, and reproductive effects. The target organs of p-chloronitrobenzene poisoning have been identifi ed as the blood, liver, kidneys, cardiovascular system, spleen, bone marrow, and reproductive system.

p-Nitrochlorobenzene (PNCB) is used as an intermediate in pesticide (parathion) manufacture, drug (phenacetin and acetaminophen) manufacture; and in dye making; rubber and antioxidant manufacture.

This compound is combustible.

If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure, begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. Give large quantities of water and induce vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit.

UN1578 Chloronitrobenzenes, solid or liquid, Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials.

A strong oxidizer. Reacts violently with oxidizers, combustibles, alkalis, sodium methoxide; and reducing materials.

p-Nitrochlorobenzene is a yellow crystalline solid with a sweet odor.

Incineration (816℃, 0.5 second for primary combustion; 1204℃, 1.0 second for secondary combustion). The formation of elemental chlorine can be prevented through injection of steam or methane into the combustion process. nitrogen oxides may be abated through the use of thermal or catalytic devices.

In dye chemistry.

Manufacture of dyes, rubber, and agricultural chemicals

p-Nitrochlorobenzene is largely used to produce p-nitrophenol with smaller production of p-nitroaniline.

ChEBI: 4-Chloronitrobenzene is a C-nitro compound.

p-Nitrochlorobenzene is made by the nitration of chlorobenzene.

The annual production of p-CNB in the United States in 1993 was 35,000 metric tons and on the order of 50,000–70,000 metric tons in Germany. It is used as an intermediate in the manufacture of dyes, rubber, and agricultural chemicals.
Human exposure may occur to dyestuff workers but the extent is uncertain because of its use as a chemical intermediate. p-Chloronitrobenzene has been detected in the surface water of the Rhine River at a concentration range of 0.1–6.38 mg/L.

The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 52, p. 2407, 1987 DOI: 10.1021/jo00388a014
Tetrahedron Letters, 19, p. 4519, 1978

No increase in tumor incidence was seen in rats fed up to 1000 ppm in the diet for 2 years; in mice, results were equivocal, with high-dose animals showing an increase in vascular tumors and low-dose males showing an increase in liver tumors.6 The IARC has determined that there is inadequate evidence in experimental animals and humans for the carcinogenicity of chlorobenzenes.7

Biological. Under aerobic conditions, the yeast Rhodosporidium sp. metabolized pchloronitrobenzene to 4-chloroacetanilide and 4-chloro-2-hydroxyacetanilide as final major metabolites. Intermediate compounds identified include 4-chloronitrosobenzene, 4-chlorophenylhydroxylamine, and 4-chloroaniline (Corbett and Corbett, 1981).
Under continuous flow conditions involving feeding, aeration, settling, and reflux, a mixture of p-chloronitrobenzene and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene was reduced 61–70% after 8–13 d by Arthrobacter simplex, a microorganism isolated from industrial waste. A similar experiment was conducted using two aeration columns. One column contained A. simplex, the other a mixture of A. simplex and microorganisms isolated from soil (Streptomyces coelicolor, Fusarium sp., probably aquaeductum and Trichoderma viride). After 10 d, 89.5–91% of the nitro compounds was reduced. p-Chloronitrobenzene was reduced to 4-chloroaniline and six unidentified compounds (Bielaszczyk et al., 1967).
Photolytic. An aqueous solution containing p-chloronitrobenzene and a titanium dioxide (catalyst) suspension was irradiated with UV light (λ >290 nm). 2-Chloro-5-nitrophenol was the only compound identified as a minor degradation product. Continued irradiation caused additional degradation yielding carbon dioxide, water, hydrochloric and nitric acids (Hustert et al., 1987).
Irradiation of p-chloronitrobenzene in air and nitrogen produced 4-chloro-2-nitrophenol and 4- chlorophenol, respectively (Kanno and Nojima, 1979).
Chemical. Although no products were identified, p-chloronitrobenzene (1.5 x 10^-5 M) was reduced by iron metal (33.3 g/L acid washed 18–20 mesh) in a carbonate buffer (1.5 x 10^-2 M) at pH 5.9 and 15 °C. Based on the pseudo-first-order disappearance rate of 0.0336/min, the half-life was 20.6 min (Agrawal and Tratnyek, 1996).

Crystallise the nitrobenzene from 95% EtOH (charcoal) and sublime it in vacuo. [Emmons JAm Chem Soc 76 3470 1954, Newman & Forrest J Am Chem Soc 69 1221 1947, Beilstein 5 IV 723.]