2-Amino-4-Nitrophenol
An amino group and a nitro group, positioned so the molecule couples cleanly into mordant dyes for leather, nylon, silk, wool and fur. That textile and leather dye chemistry is this product's real, current market — its older cosmetic use is now off the table in the EU, and we say so before you buy.
Chelora Chemicals supplies 2-amino-4-nitrophenol to textile, leather and dye-intermediate producers worldwide, in UN-approved packing, with a batch COA and GHS safety data sheet on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 99-57-0
- IUPAC name
- 2-Amino-4-nitrophenol
- Molecular formula
- C₆H₆N₂O₃
- Molecular weight
- 154.13 g/mol
- EC / EINECS
- 202-767-9
- Cosmetic status
- Prohibited — EU Cosmetics Reg.*
- SMILES
- Nc1cc(ccc1O)[N+](=O)[O-]
- HS Code
- 2922 29*
* Confirm current cosmetic and chemical regulatory status for your destination with your own regulatory affairs team — rules differ by country and do change.
What 2-Amino-4-Nitrophenol is used for
2-Amino-4-nitrophenol is a yellow to orange crystalline powder carrying both an amino and a nitro substituent on a phenol ring. That combination of electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups gives it the colour and the coupling chemistry that dye-makers want, and it is this reactivity — not any cosmetic property — that defines its current commercial market.
Its principal industrial use is as an intermediate in the manufacture of CI Mordant Brown 33 and CI Mordant Brown 1, mordant dyes applied to leather, nylon, silk, wool and fur. It was historically also used directly, dissolved into oxidative hair-colourant formulations, to produce gold-blond semi-permanent shades — a use now prohibited under the EU Cosmetics Regulation, and restricted or discontinued in a number of other markets.
Where it sits among aminophenols and nitro intermediates
- 2-Amino-4-nitrophenol (this product) the amino-nitro isomer used for Mordant Brown dyes; not a cosmetic raw material in the EU.
- 4-Aminophenol the simple para-amino isomer, the precursor to paracetamol — a different molecule and a different market entirely. See that page.
- Para-nitrophenol the nitro precursor on some aminophenol routes. See that page.
- 2-Amino-6-chloro-4-nitrophenol a related chlorinated analogue used in separate hair-dye and dye-intermediate chemistry, with its own distinct regulatory status.
On a dye intermediate with regulatory history, confirm the CAS number and your intended end use on your purchase order — see the full intermediate range.
Appearance and handling character
The material is a sparingly water-soluble powder, soluble in dilute alkali and acid, that oxidises and darkens on exposure to air and light, deepening from yellow through orange to brown over time. It is incompatible with iron and can decompose energetically if allowed to dry out completely at elevated temperature. Dust control, light exclusion and a clear statement of end use are the three practical requirements on this product.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Yellow to orange crystalline powder |
| Assay (HPLC) | 98.0% min |
| Melting range (anhydrous) | 140 – 145 °C |
| Moisture (KF) | 1.0% max |
| Sulphated ash | 0.2% max |
| Iron | 20 ppm max |
| Colour of solution | Reported per batch |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial-grade material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document. Colour and assay carry straight into dye-shade consistency — tell us your target and we will quote against it.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Crystalline solid at ambient |
| Melting point (hydrate form) | 80 – 90 °C |
| Water solubility | Sparingly soluble, ~0.9 g/L at 25 °C |
| Solvent solubility | Soluble in dilute alkali and acid |
| Stability | Oxidises and darkens in air and light |
| Incompatibilities | Iron, strong oxidising agents |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 99-57-0 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put this intermediate to work
Textile and leather mordant dyeing is the dominant current market for this intermediate.
Mordant dye manufacture
The principal route to CI Mordant Brown 33 and CI Mordant Brown 1, used to colour-fast dye protein and polyamide fibres.
- Colour-critical specification
- Contracted tonnage available
- Technical desk review of your shade
Leather dyeing
Used in leather finishing to achieve fast brown shades on tanned hides, via mordant dye complexation.
- Technical-grade specification
- Colour-critical grades available
- Bulk quantities available
Nylon, silk, wool & fur dyeing
Supplies colour-fast brown shades across protein and polyamide fibre dyeing more broadly.
- Standardised colour-shade documentation
- Small packs available
- Technical desk support on shade matching
Research & process development
Small-scale use in route scouting, shade-matching trials and analytical reference work, with the same documentation as the commercial lot.
- Packs from 500 g
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Contract & scheduled supply
Textile and leather dyehouses consume this seasonally. We hold inventory and release it against your production calendar.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
- Second source held in reserve
Non-cosmetic dye & pigment chemistry
Used more broadly as a coloured intermediate across non-cosmetic dye and pigment synthesis, under a stated end use.
- End-use declaration standard on this product
- Destination rules checked before quoting
- See our dye intermediate range
How we supply 2-Amino-4-Nitrophenol
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. On an intermediate with a known cosmetic-use restriction, owning no plant means we are never incentivised to look past a questionable end use — we route your order to the producer whose documentation and shade consistency actually match what your dyehouse needs.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your assay, your colour-shade requirement, your price point and your delivery window.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, because dye-intermediate capacity for this specific molecule is limited and shade consistency between lots matters more here than on most commodity intermediates.
- End use confirmed before we quote. Given the EU cosmetic prohibition on this material, we ask what it feeds before pricing begins, not after.
- Colour and assay confirmed before we quote. On this intermediate colour is a quality indicator as much as a cosmetic one, and we state it on the COA rather than leaving it to inference.
- Iron content reported. Trace iron accelerates oxidative darkening in storage, which is why it appears on the specification.
- Packing specified for light and air exclusion. This is a specification point on an oxidation-sensitive material, not packaging detail.
- Sensitisation classification stated up front. Said at enquiry stage so your EHS team can plan containment before the first drum arrives.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
Packed the way your plant receives it
On a light- and air-sensitive powder the pack is doing chemistry as well as containment. Tell us how the material will be charged and we will quote the format that protects the colour.
Lined fibre / HDPE drums
UN-approved drums with a sealed, light-excluding inner liner — the standard commercial format and the easiest to charge from without opening the whole drum.
Light-excluding packing
Available where light-driven darkening in transit or storage would otherwise cost colour consistency between batches.
Lined steel drums
Heavier-duty drums where the extra barrier and mechanical protection matter more than per-kilo packing cost.
Trial / sample quantities
Small, light-protected containers dispatched so your dyehouse can qualify the shade before committing to larger volumes.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before the booking is made.
Campaign despatch
We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your dyeing-season production calendar.
Dust and skin contact are the controlling routes
2-Amino-4-nitrophenol is classified as harmful if swallowed, a skin and eye irritant and sensitiser, and toxic to aquatic life. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your consignment is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H302Harmful if swallowed.H315Causes skin irritation.H317May cause an allergic skin reaction.H319Causes serious eye irritation.H410Very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects.
Hazard statements reflect classifications commonly published for CAS 99-57-0. Aromatic amino-nitrophenols are absorbed through skin as well as inhaled. Always read the SDS issued with your specific batch.
Spill & emergency orientation
Plan your response before the pallet arrives. Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the SDS are the authoritative instructions and should be posted at the point of use.
- Never dry-sweep a spill. Sweeping re-suspends the dust and turns a contained spill into an inhalation exposure — collect with a HEPA vacuum or damp methods.
- Contain, do not hose to drain. H410 applies — collect the material and dispose of it as regulated chemical waste.
- Treat contaminated clothing as waste. Remove it immediately, bag it and handle it as contaminated waste rather than sending it to an ordinary laundry.
- Wash skin thoroughly and log the exposure. Skin contact with a sensitising aromatic amine is reportable at most sites.
- Expect staining. Oxidised material marks skin, clothing and surfaces — a useful indicator of where contamination has spread.
Storage
- Cool, dry, dark, access-controlled store. Light and air both drive the oxidation that discolours the powder and lowers assay.
- Keep containers tightly closed. On an oxidation-sensitive material a part-used drum left open will be visibly darker within days.
- Segregate from oxidising agents. Aromatic aminophenols react readily with oxidisers; keep them apart by distance, not just by label.
- Avoid contact with iron. Trace iron catalyses oxidation, which is why iron content appears on the specification.
- Do not allow the material to dry out completely at elevated temperature. Violent decomposition has been reported under these conditions; keep storage temperatures moderate.
Handling & PPE
- Design dust and skin contact out. Closed transfer, contained charging and local exhaust ventilation first; PPE last, never as the sole control.
- Chemical-resistant gloves, coveralls and eye protection. With contaminated clothing removed, bagged and handled as contaminated waste.
- Respiratory protection for dust. Particulate respirators during any operation that can generate airborne powder, per your exposure assessment.
- Never discharge to drain or watercourse. H410 applies — contain and dispose of as regulated chemical waste.
- Confirm end use before specifying. Not for cosmetic, personal-care or hair-colourant formulation in the EU and other jurisdictions that restrict it.
Transport
2-Amino-4-nitrophenol is not uniformly classified as a dangerous good across all modes and destinations; several carriers and suppliers ship it as non-restricted technical cargo, while others may apply a classification depending on packaging quantity and route. We confirm the applicable classification for your specific shipment and file any required dangerous-goods declaration before the booking is made — ask us for the current transport paperwork when you plan the shipment.
What travels with every consignment
A chemical shipment is only as good as the file that travels with it. Verifying what the source plant sends is precisely the work you are buying from a supplier.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-specific assay, melting range, moisture, ash, iron and colour — checked against your specification before release.
GHS Safety Data Sheet
Full 16-section SDS in GHS format covering hazards, exposure controls, handling, storage, spill response, toxicology and disposal, in the language your destination requires.
End-use declaration
Standard on this intermediate given its cosmetic-use restriction in the EU and other markets, confirming the non-cosmetic application you have specified.
Analytical method & shade reference
HPLC method and a colour-shade reference sample on request, so your dyehouse can reproduce the shade rather than take it on trust.
Certificate of Origin
Chamber-attested where required, plus preferential-origin forms where a trade agreement gives your import duty relief.
Retained & pre-shipment samples
Pre-shipment samples carry the same COA as the commercial lot, so what your laboratory qualifies is exactly what arrives.
A dye chromophore with a cosmetic history behind it
The same amino-nitro-phenol motif that gives this molecule its warm colour is what made it attractive for hair dye decades ago — and is also why it is now restricted there. The chemistry below is general background, not a process disclosure.
Start from dinitrophenol
Industrially produced by the partial reduction of 2,4-dinitrophenol, typically using sodium sulfide as the reducing agent.
Selective reduction
One nitro group is reduced to an amine while the other remains, giving the amino-nitro substitution pattern on the ring.
Isolate and dry
The product is isolated, washed and dried under controlled conditions to minimise oxidative darkening before packing.
Couple into the dye
Downstream, the molecule is used directly as a dye or coupled into a larger mordant-dye structure for fibre application.
Why end use and colour carry through
On this intermediate, the application you specify changes what we need to verify:
- Cosmetic use is restricted, not the molecule itself. The EU prohibition applies specifically to cosmetic products; textile and leather dye use is a separate, established market.
- Colour consistency is the dyehouse's real specification. Shade-to-shade reproducibility matters more here than on most commodity intermediates.
- Iron content accelerates visible darkening. Trace iron is the main catalytic impurity affecting shelf colour stability.
- IARC Group 3 is not a safety green light. Not classifiable as a carcinogen is not the same as non-hazardous — skin sensitisation and irritation still apply.
That is why we confirm end use before quoting, and why the batch COA — including a colour reference — is shared for approval before dispatch rather than sent with the invoice.
| Material | Position in the family |
|---|---|
| 2-Amino-4-nitrophenol CAS 99-57-0 — this product | Mordant Brown dye intermediate |
| 4-Aminophenol CAS 123-30-8 | Paracetamol precursor |
| Para nitrophenol CAS 100-02-7 | Upstream nitro precursor |
| 2-Aminophenol CAS 95-55-6 | Ortho isomer · separate routes |
We supply across this intermediate family — see the full intermediate range. Send the CAS number and we will confirm the correct material before quoting.
What actually moves the price of this product
Knowing what drives the quote helps you time a purchase and read whether an offer is realistic.
Dinitrophenol & reductant feedstock
Production depends on 2,4-dinitrophenol and a selective reducing agent, so phenol and sulfide-chemical markets feed through.
- Phenol tracks the aromatics cycle
- Reductant cost follows sulfur chemistry
- We flag feedstock-driven moves in the quote
Textile & leather dyeing demand
This is now primarily a dyehouse market, tied to leather and protein-fibre textile production cycles.
- Demand follows seasonal dyeing cycles
- Contracted call-off smooths the exposure
- We hold a second qualified source
Colour-shade specification
A standard dye-intermediate grade and a tightly shade-matched lot are different products from the same plant at different prices.
- Tell us the real shade tolerance you need
- We will say when a wider spec will do
- Over-specification is the commonest cost leak
Freight and packing format
Light-excluding, opaque-lined packing adds a modest cost over standard drums but protects colour consistency in transit.
- Compare on landed cost, not ex-works
- Ask about light-excluding packing upgrades
- We quote FOB, CIF, CFR or DDP as you prefer
Source concentration
Production is concentrated among a limited number of dye-intermediate specialists, so a single plant's turnaround can move the market.
- We hold a second qualified source on this line
- Qualify the alternate before you need it
- Ask us about dual-source contracts
Shelf life and inventory risk
An oxidation-sensitive powder with a roughly 24-month shelf life means stockpiling against a price move carries a real colour-drift cost.
- Buy to schedule rather than to price
- We hold inventory and release on call-off
- Ask about scheduled despatch
| If your end use is… | Specify |
|---|---|
| Mordant Brown dye synthesis | Colour-critical, tight shade tolerance |
| Leather dyeing | Technical grade, colour reference sample |
| Nylon / silk / wool / fur dyeing | Standardised colour documentation |
| Non-cosmetic dye & pigment research | Small pack, full COA, end-use declaration |
| Cosmetic / personal-care use | Not supported — restricted in the EU and other markets |
Not sure which row you are in? Describe what you make from it and our technical desk will recommend the grade — including telling you plainly if your intended use is one we cannot support.
Support that goes beyond shipping the drum
What our technical desk will do
- Confirm end use before anything else. Given the EU cosmetic prohibition on this material, this is the first question we ask, not the last.
- Confirm colour and shade-tolerance requirements. On this intermediate both carry straight into your dyeing results.
- Recommend packing for your climate and transit. Light-excluding packing is worth the cost on some routes and unnecessary on others, and we will say which.
- Be straight about the sensitisation classification. Stated at enquiry stage so your EHS team can plan containment before the first delivery.
Regulatory & compliance notes
- Cosmetic use is prohibited in the EU. We will not knowingly supply material declared for cosmetic or personal-care formulation into markets where that use is restricted.
- Import controls vary by destination. We check destination rules before quoting, not after you have raised the PO.
- Chemical inventory listings differ between regions. We will supply the identity data you need for that filing.
- Effluent and waste rules matter. H410 applies — check your discharge consent against the material before introducing it to site.
None of the above is legal advice — your own regulatory affairs team owns the final compliance position for your import, your product formulation and your workplace. What we commit to is accurate product identity data, an honest statement of the hazard and regulatory status, and complete documentation to work from.
From enquiry to delivered pallet
Send the specification
Product name or CAS 99-57-0, your intended end use, assay and colour requirements, quantity, pack preference and destination port.
Receive a firm quote
Pricing, lead time, packing and Incoterm confirmed in writing within 24 hours — our sourcing desk is staffed around the clock.
Qualify and approve
Sample dispatched if you are qualifying a new source. Batch COA and colour reference shared for your approval before the material is released.
Ship and track
Classification confirmed, freight booked, export documents issued, and the consignment tracked through transit and clearance.
What buyers ask us about 2-Amino-4-Nitrophenol
What is 2-amino-4-nitrophenol used for?
Can this be used in hair dye or cosmetic products?
Is it carcinogenic?
What purity do you normally supply?
Is it hazardous?
What is the minimum order quantity?
How should we store it?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Request pricing on 2-Amino-4-Nitrophenol
Send your intended end use, required assay and colour-shade limits, quantity, pack format and destination port. Our sourcing desk is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and comes back with pricing, lead time and packing options.