2-Nitrofuran

solid

Nitrofurans are a class of broad-spectrum antibacterial compounds that are commonly added to water to destroy bacteria. However, nitrofurans have recently been withdrawn for use in the United States by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Now, 2-nitrofuran is used as a minor antimicrobial in veterinary medicine.

2-NITROFURAN is a minor antimicrobial used in veterinary medicine.

ChEBI: 2-nitrofuran is a member of furans and a C-nitro compound.

2-Nitrofuran is a yellow crystalline solid with molecular weight of 113.07152 g mol^-1. The boiling point of 2-nitrofuran is 84 ℃ at 17 hPa and the melting point is 29–33 ℃. It is a flammable solid. Its flash point is 88 ℃ (closed cup). Vapor pressure is 0.398mmHg at 25 ℃. This compound is soluble in H2O and ethanol. Its density is 1.344 g cm^-3.
The partition behavior of 2-nitrofuran in water, sediment, and soil is 0.8. No data are available on its environmental persistency (degradation/speciation), long-range transport, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification. This chemical is stable but it is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents.

2-Nitrofuran reacts with DNA to form complexes, induces interstrand cross-links, produces alkali-labile lesions, and interferes with nucleic acid synthesis. Removal of the nitro group decreases the mutagenic activity.