Nitroethylene is the simplest ntiroalkene and serves as a useful intermediate for the production of various chemicals and pharmaceutical goods.
ChEBI: A nitroalkene having ethenyl as the alkene portion.
Nitroethylene is best prepared by dehydration of 2-nitroethanol using phthalic anhydride (eq 1). It can also be generated for reactions in situ from several precursors, especially 2-nitroethyl phenyl sulfoxide.
Lachrymatory oil. It polymerizes readily in the presence of water and violently with the base. The purified compound darkens quickly, but 10% solutions in dry benzene can be kept for 6 months or longer when refrigerated.
