Thermal decomposition of liquid α-nitrotoluene

Abstract

Liquid α-nitrotoluene decomposes on heating into benzonitrile, benzaldehyde, benzaldehyde oxime, oxides of nitrogen, and water. Prolonged heating (over 2 h) at 125 °C leads to N,N′-dibenzoyl-N-phenylhydrazine, α-nitrostilbene, 3,4,5-triphenylisoxazole, 1,3,5-triphenyl-1,2,4-triazole, 3,5-diphenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole, benzamide, benzylideneaniline, benzanilide, and trans-stilbene. The product distribution depends on the temperature and duration of heating.