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Meta Dinitrobenzene

m-DNB  ·  CAS 99-65-0  ·  C6H4N2O4

Meta Dinitrobenzene exists commercially for one reason: it is the practical industrial route to meta-substituted anilines. Reduce one nitro group and you have m-nitroaniline; reduce both and you have m-phenylenediamine. Neither is easy to reach any other way, because ordinary aniline chemistry directs ortho and para — the meta position has to be built in at the nitration stage.

Chelora Chemicals supplies m-DNB to dye and pigment manufacturers, polymer and curing-agent producers and fine chemical plants worldwide, in UN-approved packing, with a batch COA and GHS safety data sheet on every consignment.

  • Route to m-phenylenediamine
  • Route to m-nitroaniline
  • Dye & pigment intermediate
  • Fatal by all routes · reproductive toxicant
  • UN 1597 · Class 6.1

Product identity

CAS Number
99-65-0
IUPAC name
1,3-Dinitrobenzene
Molecular formula
C6H4N2O4
Molecular weight
168.11 g/mol
EC / EINECS
202-776-8
UN Number
1597 · Class 6.1
SMILES
O=[N+]([O-])c1cccc([N+](=O)[O-])c1
HS Code
2904 20*

* Confirm the exact HS heading with your customs broker — nitrated derivatives of hydrocarbons can sit under different subheadings depending on the destination tariff schedule.

168.11g/mol molecular weight
≈ 90 °CMelting point
≈ 301 °CBoiling point @ 760 mmHg
99%+Typical assay
Product overview

What Meta Dinitrobenzene is used for

m-DNB is a pale yellow to colourless crystalline solid melting near 90 °C. Chemically it is unremarkable to look at — two nitro groups on a benzene ring, in a 1,3 relationship — but that geometry is the entire commercial proposition. Nearly all of it is consumed as a reduction feedstock.

Partial reduction gives m-nitroaniline, a diazo component used across azo dye and pigment manufacture. Complete reduction gives m-phenylenediamine, which goes into azo dyes, hair colourants, aramid and high-performance polymer chemistry, epoxy curing agents and a range of specialty intermediates. A buyer purchasing m-DNB is almost always buying the meta geometry rather than the molecule itself.

Why there is no easy substitute

The meta relationship is awkward to install late in a synthesis. An amino group on a benzene ring is activating and directs incoming electrophiles ortho and para; a nitro group deactivates and directs meta. So the industrial trick is to nitrate first, twice, and reduce afterwards:

  • Meta dinitrobenzene (CAS 99-65-0) — this product. Both nitro groups in place, meta to each other, ready to reduce.
  • o- and p-Dinitrobenzene — minor nitration by-products with different geometry; their level in your drum is a quality indicator, not a feature.
  • 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene (CAS 97-00-7) — dinitro plus a displaceable chlorine, so it serves substitution rather than reduction chemistry. See that page.
  • Meta nitrochlorobenzene (CAS 121-73-3) — one nitro, one chlorine, meta; the route to m-chloroaniline. See that page.

Appearance and handling character

The material ships as a pale yellow crystalline solid or flake, practically insoluble in water and soluble in hot alcohol, benzene and chloroform. It is among the most acutely toxic materials in this product range — fatal by oral, dermal and inhalation exposure, a potent methaemoglobin former, and classified as a reproductive toxicant. The safety section below should be read before any handling is planned.

Typical commercial specification
ParameterTypical value
AppearancePale yellow crystalline solid / flake
Assay99.0% min
Melting range88 – 90 °C
o- / p-Isomer contentReported per batch
Residual nitrobenzeneReported per batch
Moisture0.2% max

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. On this product the melting range is the fastest practical check — a depressed or broad range usually means isomer or residual nitrobenzene content, both of which carry straight through your reduction step.

Physical & chemical properties
PropertyValue
Physical stateCrystalline solid at ambient
Melting point≈ 89 – 90 °C
Boiling point≈ 300 – 303 °C @ 760 mmHg
Flash point≈ 150 °C
Relative density≈ 1.57 (solid)
Water solubilityPractically insoluble
Organic solubilitySoluble in hot alcohol, benzene, chloroform
StabilityStable in storage; exothermic on reduction

Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 99-65-0 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.

Applications

Where our customers put this molecule to work

Almost every use of m-DNB is a reduction. What differs is how far it is taken and what the resulting amine is built into.

m-Phenylenediamine production

Complete reduction of both nitro groups gives m-phenylenediamine, which feeds azo dye manufacture, aramid and high-performance polymer chemistry, epoxy curing agents and specialty intermediates.

  • Catalytic or chemical reduction
  • Highly exothermic — calorimetry essential
  • See our intermediate range

m-Nitroaniline & azo dyes

Selective reduction of one nitro group gives m-nitroaniline, a diazo component used widely in azo dye and pigment manufacture where a meta-nitro aromatic amine is required.

Polymer & curing agent chains

Downstream of the diamine, meta-substituted aromatics appear in epoxy curing systems and high-temperature polymer backbones where the meta geometry gives different chain flexibility and thermal behaviour from the para isomer.

  • Epoxy curing agent chemistry
  • High-performance polymer intermediates
  • Tight impurity limits usually apply

Agrochemical & fine chemical routes

Meta-substituted anilines derived from m-DNB are used in specialty agrochemical and fine chemical synthesis where the substitution pattern is fixed by the target molecule.

  • Custom synthesis quantities available
  • End-use declaration required
  • Technical desk review of your route

Analytical & laboratory use

m-DNB appears as a reagent in several classical analytical procedures and as a reference standard in nitroaromatic analysis. Small quantities are available subject to DG rules.

  • Reagent-grade material on request
  • Small DG-compliant packs
  • Full analytical documentation available

Contract & scheduled supply

Reduction plants run to campaign and Class 6.1 freight needs planning. Most buyers want tonnage released against a production plan rather than in one shipment. We hold inventory and release it to your schedule.

  • Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
  • Price held across the contract period
  • Second source held in reserve
Buying from Chelora

How we supply Meta Dinitrobenzene

Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. We own no nitration plant — and on a material this hazardous, that independence means we can route your order to a producer whose containment, packing and documentation standards actually match what your site requires.

We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your assay, your isomer limits, your price point and your delivery window.

We keep a second qualified source on this line. When a plant goes down for maintenance, your campaign switches source rather than stalling.

  • Toxicity stated at enquiry stage. Fatal by all three routes and a reproductive toxicant — we put that in the first reply so your EHS team can price the controls into the decision.
  • Isomer limits read against your reduction. Ortho and para content behaves differently under hydrogenation, so we confirm your tolerance before quoting a grade.
  • Batch COA shared before dispatch. You approve assay, melting range and isomer profile against your own spec while the material is still in our warehouse.
  • Packing integrity checked, not assumed. On a fatal-by-skin-contact solid, drum closure and liner quality are a safety control. We inspect before release.
  • Pre-shipment samples for qualification. New account or new source, your laboratory runs a trial before the full quantity ever moves.
  • Export machinery handled in-house. UN 1597 classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
Packing & logistics

Packed the way your plant receives it

On a highly toxic solid, pack format is a handling decision before it is a cost decision. Tell us how the material will be charged at your end and we will quote accordingly.

50 kg net

UN-approved drums

Fibre or HDPE drums with inner liner, UN-certified for Class 6.1 solids — the standard commercial format and the easiest to charge without generating dust.

200 – 250 kg

Large drums

Larger UN drums for high-volume users with mechanical handling and closed charging, cutting cost per kilo and the number of openings your operators make.

Flake / prill

Low-dust forms

Flaked or prilled product where available, which reduces airborne fines during charging — worth asking about on a material of this toxicity.

100 g – 5 kg

Samples & trial packs

Laboratory and pilot quantities dispatched so your R&D team can qualify the grade first — subject to the dangerous-goods rules for your destination and courier.

FOB · CIF · CFR · DDP

Incoterms to suit you

Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with DG documentation filed before the booking is made rather than chased afterwards.

Scheduled release

Campaign despatch

Dangerous-goods space needs planning. We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your production calendar instead of landing it all at once.

Safety, storage & handling

Among the most hazardous in this range

Meta Dinitrobenzene is classified as fatal by the oral, dermal and inhalation routes, as a reproductive toxicant, and as causing organ damage through prolonged or repeated exposure. It is also a potent methaemoglobin former. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your consignment is the authoritative document and should govern your risk assessment, PPE selection, exposure monitoring and emergency planning.

GHS Signal word: Danger

Classified hazards

  • H300Fatal if swallowed.
  • H310Fatal in contact with skin.
  • H330Fatal if inhaled.
  • H360FMay damage fertility.
  • H373May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.
  • H411Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.

Hazard statements reflect classifications commonly published for CAS 99-65-0. The reproductive-toxicity entry reflects well-documented effects seen in occupational and animal studies. Always read the SDS issued with your specific batch — and treat the fatal-by-skin-contact entry as the one that shapes your controls most.

Reactivity & emergency orientation

Plan your response before the drum arrives. Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the SDS are the authoritative instructions and should be posted at the point of use.

  • Reduction is strongly exothermic. Hydrogenation and chemical reduction of a dinitroaromatic release a great deal of heat. Calorimetry, controlled addition and properly sized relief are not optional.
  • Assume skin absorption is lethal. Contaminated clothing is a continuing exposure route — remove it immediately and wash the skin thoroughly.
  • Expect delayed presentation. Methaemoglobinaemia may appear hours after exposure. A casualty who feels fine must still be assessed, with the SDS in hand.
  • Contain, do not hose to drain. H411 applies — collect spilled solid mechanically, avoid raising dust, dispose of as regulated chemical waste.
  • Segregate strictly from reducing agents, alkalis and strong oxidisers in storage as well as in process.

Storage

  • Cool, dry, well-ventilated and strictly access-controlled store, away from direct sunlight, heat sources and ignition sources.
  • Keep containers tightly closed on a sealed and bunded floor. Dust and fines from a damaged drum are the most likely route to a serious exposure.
  • Segregate from reducing agents, alkalis and strong oxidisers — a reactivity control, not a housekeeping preference.
  • Restrict access and log it. With acute toxicity and a reproductive-toxicity classification, controlling who enters the store is a genuine control measure.
  • Shelf life is typically 24 months or more in sealed original packing. Re-assay before use after long storage.

Handling & PPE

  • Design exposure out entirely. Closed transfer, contained charging and dust suppression first; ventilation second; PPE last. On a fatal-by-skin material, PPE is the weakest line of defence.
  • Chemical-resistant gloves and coveralls, changed and disposed of properly — contaminated clothing is a hazard to the wearer and to anyone handling the laundry.
  • Respiratory protection during drum opening, charging and any operation that can generate dust, per your own exposure assessment.
  • Health surveillance and exposure records. The reproductive-toxicity classification triggers specific duties in many regimes — your occupational health provider owns the detail.
  • Never discharge to drain or watercourse. Contain and dispose of as regulated chemical waste.

Transport

m-DNB moves as regulated cargo under UN 1597, Class 6.1. We classify each consignment, apply UN-approved packaging and labelling, and file the dangerous-goods declaration before the booking is made. The applicable packing group is stated on your shipping documents and SDS — ask us for the current DG paperwork when you plan the shipment.

Quality & documentation

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, isomer and residual nitrobenzene content and moisture — checked against your purchase specification before we release the goods.

GHS Safety Data Sheet

Full 16-section SDS in GHS format covering hazards, exposure controls, handling, storage, spill response, toxicology and disposal — issued in the language your destination requires.

Dangerous Goods Declaration

UN 1597, hazard class, packing group and IMDG or IATA declaration prepared and filed before the container is booked, with correctly marked and labelled packaging.

Certificate of Origin

Chamber-attested where required, plus preferential-origin forms where a trade agreement gives your import duty relief at the destination.

Third-party inspection

SGS, Intertek or Bureau Veritas sampling and inspection arranged on request before loading, giving you independent verification of what actually ships.

Retained & pre-shipment samples

Pre-shipment samples carry the same COA as the commercial lot, so what your laboratory qualifies is exactly what arrives. Retention samples held against the batch.

The chemistry

Nitrate twice, then reduce

The meta geometry has to be installed while the ring is deactivated, which fixes the order of operations. The routes below are the general industrial pattern, not a process disclosure.

Nitrate nitrobenzene

A nitro group already on the ring deactivates it and directs the second nitration meta, giving predominantly the 1,3-isomer.

Purify to melting range

Ortho and para isomers and residual nitrobenzene are removed by crystallisation or distillation; what remains shows up as the melting range on the COA.

Reduce selectively or fully

One nitro group reduced gives m-nitroaniline; both reduced gives m-phenylenediamine. The step is strongly exothermic and demands proper thermal control.

Diazotise, couple or polymerise

The resulting amine is taken onward — diazotised and coupled into a dye, or built into a polymer backbone or curing agent.

Why feed quality carries through the whole route

Reduction does not discriminate. Whatever nitroaromatic is in the drum gets reduced alongside the molecule you wanted:

  • o- and p-Dinitrobenzene reduce to the ortho and para diamines, which couple to give the wrong shade and are difficult to separate once formed.
  • Residual nitrobenzene reduces to aniline — a mono-functional contaminant that terminates chains in polymer chemistry and dilutes your diazo component in dye work.
  • Moisture affects catalyst performance in hydrogenation and can shift selectivity in partial reduction.
  • Melting range is the quick practical read on all of the above, which is why buyers watch it as closely as the assay figure.

That is why the batch COA reports melting range and isomer content alongside the assay, and why we share it for approval before dispatch rather than sending it with the invoice.

Related nitro aromatics at a glance
IntermediatePrincipal character
Meta dinitrobenzene
CAS 99-65-0 — this product
Reduction feedstock
Route to meta diamine
2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene
CAS 97-00-7
Substitution substrate
Activated chlorine
Meta nitrochlorobenzene
CAS 121-73-3
Route to m-chloroaniline
One nitro, one chlorine

We supply across the nitro and chloro aromatic range — see the full intermediate range. Send the CAS number and we will confirm the correct material before quoting.

Buying guidance

What actually moves the price of this intermediate

m-DNB is not a commodity with a screen price. Knowing what drives the quote helps you time a purchase and read whether an offer is realistic.

A short producer list

Acute toxicity plus a reproductive-toxicity classification means only plants with full containment and health surveillance can make this material at all. Fewer producers means less price competition and more exposure to any one outage.

  • Containment cost sits inside the price
  • Obligations vary by jurisdiction
  • We check destination rules before quoting

Upstream feedstock

The route runs back through benzene, nitrobenzene and a second mixed-acid nitration. Benzene price, nitric and sulphuric acid cost and acid recovery economics feed through within a quarter or so.

  • Nitrobenzene availability sets the floor
  • Acid recovery weighs on plant economics
  • We flag feedstock-driven moves in the quote

Downstream integration

Several producers reduce their own m-DNB rather than sell it, so merchant availability is a residual of their internal plan. That is why lead times move more than prices do on this product.

  • Merchant volume is the leftover, not the target
  • Quote early for campaign tonnage
  • Contracted call-off smooths the exposure

Pack format

Smaller drums cost more per kilo and, on a material of this toxicity, mean more openings and more handling events. Larger units are usually cheaper and safer at once — if your charging arrangement can take them.

  • Fewer openings means less exposure risk
  • Low-dust forms are worth asking about
  • Packing disposal is a hidden cost at your end

Freight & DG surcharges

Class 6.1 cargo carries a hazardous surcharge and space is tighter than for general cargo. Destination and Incoterm move landed cost as much as the ex-works price does.

  • Compare on landed cost, not ex-works
  • DG space books out ahead of peak season
  • We quote FOB, CIF, CFR or DDP as you prefer

Source availability

A plant turnaround, an environmental inspection or a monsoon disruption can take capacity offline at short notice. On a product with a short producer list, single-sourced buyers feel this hardest.

  • We hold a second qualified source on this line
  • Qualify the alternate before you need it
  • Ask us about dual-source contracts
Grade selection at a glance
If your end use is…Specify
m-Phenylenediamine routeNarrow melting range; low residual nitrobenzene
Selective partial reductionTight isomer limit; low moisture for catalyst life
Polymer / curing agent chainFull impurity profile; mono-functional content limited
Dye & pigment synthesisIsomer limit; colour of reduced product checked
Laboratory / reagentHighest available purity, small DG-compliant pack

Not sure which column you are in? Describe the reduction you are running and our technical desk will recommend the grade — including telling you when a cheaper specification would do the job just as well.

Technical support & compliance

Support that goes beyond shipping the drum

What our technical desk will do

  • Match a grade to your reduction. Catalytic hydrogenation and chemical reduction respond to different impurities — tell us which you run and we will specify accordingly.
  • Be straight about the hazard profile. Fatal by all three routes, reproductive toxicant, organ toxicity on repeated exposure — all stated at enquiry stage.
  • Flag the exotherm for your process safety team. Reduction of a dinitroaromatic is one of the better-documented runaway hazards in fine chemicals, and we put that in writing.
  • Review your specification before it goes into a contract, so you are not locked into a limit that no plant can consistently hit.

Regulatory & compliance notes

  • Reproductive-toxicity obligations are jurisdiction-specific. Many regimes impose substitution reviews, exposure monitoring, health surveillance and restrictions on who may work with the material. Confirm what applies at your site before the first delivery.
  • Import controls vary by destination. We check the 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 because of the aquatic classification. Check your discharge consent against the material before introducing it.

None of the above is legal advice — your own regulatory affairs team owns the final compliance position for your import and your workplace. What we commit to is accurate product identity data, an honest statement of the hazard classification and complete documentation to work from.

How to order

From enquiry to delivered pallet

Send the specification

Product name or CAS 99-65-0, the assay, melting range and isomer limits you work to, 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 shared for your approval before the material is released.

Ship and track

UN 1597 classification filed, DG freight booked, export documents issued, and the consignment tracked through transit and clearance to your plant.

Common questions

What buyers ask us about Meta Dinitrobenzene

How toxic is this material really?
This is one of the more hazardous materials in the nitroaromatic range. Published GHS data classifies it as fatal by the oral, dermal and inhalation routes, as a reproductive toxicant, and as causing organ damage through prolonged or repeated exposure. It is also a potent methaemoglobin former. Involve your EHS and occupational health functions before the first delivery, not after it.
Why is the meta isomer the one that is sold?
Because nitration puts it there. A nitro group already on the ring is strongly deactivating and meta-directing, so nitrating nitrobenzene gives predominantly the 1,3-isomer. The ortho and para dinitrobenzenes are minor by-products — which is exactly why commercial material carries an isomer limit.
What purity do you normally supply?
Commercial material typically assays 99.0% minimum, with ortho and para isomers and residual nitrobenzene reported on the batch COA. Melting range is the quick practical read on all of it. If your reduction step is isomer-sensitive, state a limit and we will quote against it.
Is it thermally stable?
Under ordinary storage, yes — but it is a dinitroaromatic. Reduction is strongly exothermic, reactions with alkalis and reducing agents can run away, and decomposition at elevated temperature can be rapid. Any process that melts, holds or reduces this material should be supported by reaction calorimetry and properly sized relief.
What is the minimum order quantity?
For commercial supply the practical minimum is one UN-approved drum, typically 50 kg net. Laboratory and trial quantities can be dispatched so your R&D team can qualify the grade first, subject to the dangerous-goods rules for your destination and courier.
How long does delivery take?
Stocked quantities typically dispatch within 3–7 working days of order confirmation. Custom-sourced or tighter-spec material usually runs 2–4 weeks. Dangerous-goods space on ocean services should be booked early, particularly ahead of peak season.
How should we store it, and what is the shelf life?
Cool, dry, well-ventilated and strictly access-controlled, out of direct sunlight and away from heat and ignition sources, in tightly closed original packing on a sealed and bunded floor, segregated from reducing agents, alkalis and strong oxidisers. Expect 24 months or more, and re-assay after extended storage.
Is this a dangerous good? What paperwork comes with it?
Yes — it moves under UN 1597, Class 6.1 as regulated cargo. Every consignment leaves us with:
  • Batch certificate of analysis
  • GHS-format safety data sheet
  • Dangerous-goods declaration with UN number, class and packing group
  • Commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading or airway bill
  • Certificate of origin and any destination-specific forms
Do you supply to my country?
We supply across nations, worldwide. This material attracts import controls, notification requirements and workplace obligations in several jurisdictions, and the reproductive-toxicity classification triggers additional duties in some regimes — so we check destination requirements before quoting rather than after.
Do you manufacture this yourself?
No — Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Owning no nitration plant means we are never selling you whatever a captive unit happens to be running. We place your order with whichever qualified producer fits your specification and timeline, and we hold a second source in reserve. Read more about how we work.

Request pricing on Meta Dinitrobenzene

Send your required assay, melting range, isomer 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 — whether that is a single trial pack or a contracted programme for the year.

Email your enquirysource@cheloragroup.com
Call or WhatsApp · 24/7+91 9819 1111 79
Quote turnaroundWithin 24 working hours

Meta Dinitrobenzene

m-DNB  ·  CAS 99-65-0  ·  C6H4N2O4

Meta Dinitrobenzene exists commercially for one reason: it is the practical industrial route to meta-substituted anilines. Reduce one nitro group and you have m-nitroaniline; reduce both and you have m-phenylenediamine. Neither is easy to reach any other way, because ordinary aniline chemistry directs ortho and para — the meta position has to be built in at the nitration stage.

Chelora Chemicals supplies m-DNB to dye and pigment manufacturers, polymer and curing-agent producers and fine chemical plants worldwide, in UN-approved packing, with a batch COA and GHS safety data sheet on every consignment.

  • Route to m-phenylenediamine
  • Route to m-nitroaniline
  • Dye & pigment intermediate
  • Fatal by all routes · reproductive toxicant
  • UN 1597 · Class 6.1

Product identity

CAS Number
99-65-0
IUPAC name
1,3-Dinitrobenzene
Molecular formula
C6H4N2O4
Molecular weight
168.11 g/mol
EC / EINECS
202-776-8
UN Number
1597 · Class 6.1
SMILES
O=[N+]([O-])c1cccc([N+](=O)[O-])c1
HS Code
2904 20*

* Confirm the exact HS heading with your customs broker — nitrated derivatives of hydrocarbons can sit under different subheadings depending on the destination tariff schedule.

168.11g/mol molecular weight
≈ 90 °CMelting point
≈ 301 °CBoiling point @ 760 mmHg
99%+Typical assay
Product overview

What Meta Dinitrobenzene is used for

m-DNB is a pale yellow to colourless crystalline solid melting near 90 °C. Chemically it is unremarkable to look at — two nitro groups on a benzene ring, in a 1,3 relationship — but that geometry is the entire commercial proposition. Nearly all of it is consumed as a reduction feedstock.

Partial reduction gives m-nitroaniline, a diazo component used across azo dye and pigment manufacture. Complete reduction gives m-phenylenediamine, which goes into azo dyes, hair colourants, aramid and high-performance polymer chemistry, epoxy curing agents and a range of specialty intermediates. A buyer purchasing m-DNB is almost always buying the meta geometry rather than the molecule itself.

Why there is no easy substitute

The meta relationship is awkward to install late in a synthesis. An amino group on a benzene ring is activating and directs incoming electrophiles ortho and para; a nitro group deactivates and directs meta. So the industrial trick is to nitrate first, twice, and reduce afterwards:

  • Meta dinitrobenzene (CAS 99-65-0) — this product. Both nitro groups in place, meta to each other, ready to reduce.
  • o- and p-Dinitrobenzene — minor nitration by-products with different geometry; their level in your drum is a quality indicator, not a feature.
  • 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene (CAS 97-00-7) — dinitro plus a displaceable chlorine, so it serves substitution rather than reduction chemistry. See that page.
  • Meta nitrochlorobenzene (CAS 121-73-3) — one nitro, one chlorine, meta; the route to m-chloroaniline. See that page.

Appearance and handling character

The material ships as a pale yellow crystalline solid or flake, practically insoluble in water and soluble in hot alcohol, benzene and chloroform. It is among the most acutely toxic materials in this product range — fatal by oral, dermal and inhalation exposure, a potent methaemoglobin former, and classified as a reproductive toxicant. The safety section below should be read before any handling is planned.

Typical commercial specification
ParameterTypical value
AppearancePale yellow crystalline solid / flake
Assay99.0% min
Melting range88 – 90 °C
o- / p-Isomer contentReported per batch
Residual nitrobenzeneReported per batch
Moisture0.2% max

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. On this product the melting range is the fastest practical check — a depressed or broad range usually means isomer or residual nitrobenzene content, both of which carry straight through your reduction step.

Physical & chemical properties
PropertyValue
Physical stateCrystalline solid at ambient
Melting point≈ 89 – 90 °C
Boiling point≈ 300 – 303 °C @ 760 mmHg
Flash point≈ 150 °C
Relative density≈ 1.57 (solid)
Water solubilityPractically insoluble
Organic solubilitySoluble in hot alcohol, benzene, chloroform
StabilityStable in storage; exothermic on reduction

Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 99-65-0 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.

Applications

Where our customers put this molecule to work

Almost every use of m-DNB is a reduction. What differs is how far it is taken and what the resulting amine is built into.

m-Phenylenediamine production

Complete reduction of both nitro groups gives m-phenylenediamine, which feeds azo dye manufacture, aramid and high-performance polymer chemistry, epoxy curing agents and specialty intermediates.

  • Catalytic or chemical reduction
  • Highly exothermic — calorimetry essential
  • See our intermediate range

m-Nitroaniline & azo dyes

Selective reduction of one nitro group gives m-nitroaniline, a diazo component used widely in azo dye and pigment manufacture where a meta-nitro aromatic amine is required.

Polymer & curing agent chains

Downstream of the diamine, meta-substituted aromatics appear in epoxy curing systems and high-temperature polymer backbones where the meta geometry gives different chain flexibility and thermal behaviour from the para isomer.

  • Epoxy curing agent chemistry
  • High-performance polymer intermediates
  • Tight impurity limits usually apply

Agrochemical & fine chemical routes

Meta-substituted anilines derived from m-DNB are used in specialty agrochemical and fine chemical synthesis where the substitution pattern is fixed by the target molecule.

  • Custom synthesis quantities available
  • End-use declaration required
  • Technical desk review of your route

Analytical & laboratory use

m-DNB appears as a reagent in several classical analytical procedures and as a reference standard in nitroaromatic analysis. Small quantities are available subject to DG rules.

  • Reagent-grade material on request
  • Small DG-compliant packs
  • Full analytical documentation available

Contract & scheduled supply

Reduction plants run to campaign and Class 6.1 freight needs planning. Most buyers want tonnage released against a production plan rather than in one shipment. We hold inventory and release it to your schedule.

  • Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
  • Price held across the contract period
  • Second source held in reserve
Buying from Chelora

How we supply Meta Dinitrobenzene

Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. We own no nitration plant — and on a material this hazardous, that independence means we can route your order to a producer whose containment, packing and documentation standards actually match what your site requires.

We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your assay, your isomer limits, your price point and your delivery window.

We keep a second qualified source on this line. When a plant goes down for maintenance, your campaign switches source rather than stalling.

  • Toxicity stated at enquiry stage. Fatal by all three routes and a reproductive toxicant — we put that in the first reply so your EHS team can price the controls into the decision.
  • Isomer limits read against your reduction. Ortho and para content behaves differently under hydrogenation, so we confirm your tolerance before quoting a grade.
  • Batch COA shared before dispatch. You approve assay, melting range and isomer profile against your own spec while the material is still in our warehouse.
  • Packing integrity checked, not assumed. On a fatal-by-skin-contact solid, drum closure and liner quality are a safety control. We inspect before release.
  • Pre-shipment samples for qualification. New account or new source, your laboratory runs a trial before the full quantity ever moves.
  • Export machinery handled in-house. UN 1597 classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
Packing & logistics

Packed the way your plant receives it

On a highly toxic solid, pack format is a handling decision before it is a cost decision. Tell us how the material will be charged at your end and we will quote accordingly.

50 kg net

UN-approved drums

Fibre or HDPE drums with inner liner, UN-certified for Class 6.1 solids — the standard commercial format and the easiest to charge without generating dust.

200 – 250 kg

Large drums

Larger UN drums for high-volume users with mechanical handling and closed charging, cutting cost per kilo and the number of openings your operators make.

Flake / prill

Low-dust forms

Flaked or prilled product where available, which reduces airborne fines during charging — worth asking about on a material of this toxicity.

100 g – 5 kg

Samples & trial packs

Laboratory and pilot quantities dispatched so your R&D team can qualify the grade first — subject to the dangerous-goods rules for your destination and courier.

FOB · CIF · CFR · DDP

Incoterms to suit you

Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with DG documentation filed before the booking is made rather than chased afterwards.

Scheduled release

Campaign despatch

Dangerous-goods space needs planning. We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your production calendar instead of landing it all at once.

Safety, storage & handling

Among the most hazardous in this range

Meta Dinitrobenzene is classified as fatal by the oral, dermal and inhalation routes, as a reproductive toxicant, and as causing organ damage through prolonged or repeated exposure. It is also a potent methaemoglobin former. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your consignment is the authoritative document and should govern your risk assessment, PPE selection, exposure monitoring and emergency planning.

GHS Signal word: Danger

Classified hazards

  • H300Fatal if swallowed.
  • H310Fatal in contact with skin.
  • H330Fatal if inhaled.
  • H360FMay damage fertility.
  • H373May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.
  • H411Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.

Hazard statements reflect classifications commonly published for CAS 99-65-0. The reproductive-toxicity entry reflects well-documented effects seen in occupational and animal studies. Always read the SDS issued with your specific batch — and treat the fatal-by-skin-contact entry as the one that shapes your controls most.

Reactivity & emergency orientation

Plan your response before the drum arrives. Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the SDS are the authoritative instructions and should be posted at the point of use.

  • Reduction is strongly exothermic. Hydrogenation and chemical reduction of a dinitroaromatic release a great deal of heat. Calorimetry, controlled addition and properly sized relief are not optional.
  • Assume skin absorption is lethal. Contaminated clothing is a continuing exposure route — remove it immediately and wash the skin thoroughly.
  • Expect delayed presentation. Methaemoglobinaemia may appear hours after exposure. A casualty who feels fine must still be assessed, with the SDS in hand.
  • Contain, do not hose to drain. H411 applies — collect spilled solid mechanically, avoid raising dust, dispose of as regulated chemical waste.
  • Segregate strictly from reducing agents, alkalis and strong oxidisers in storage as well as in process.

Storage

  • Cool, dry, well-ventilated and strictly access-controlled store, away from direct sunlight, heat sources and ignition sources.
  • Keep containers tightly closed on a sealed and bunded floor. Dust and fines from a damaged drum are the most likely route to a serious exposure.
  • Segregate from reducing agents, alkalis and strong oxidisers — a reactivity control, not a housekeeping preference.
  • Restrict access and log it. With acute toxicity and a reproductive-toxicity classification, controlling who enters the store is a genuine control measure.
  • Shelf life is typically 24 months or more in sealed original packing. Re-assay before use after long storage.

Handling & PPE

  • Design exposure out entirely. Closed transfer, contained charging and dust suppression first; ventilation second; PPE last. On a fatal-by-skin material, PPE is the weakest line of defence.
  • Chemical-resistant gloves and coveralls, changed and disposed of properly — contaminated clothing is a hazard to the wearer and to anyone handling the laundry.
  • Respiratory protection during drum opening, charging and any operation that can generate dust, per your own exposure assessment.
  • Health surveillance and exposure records. The reproductive-toxicity classification triggers specific duties in many regimes — your occupational health provider owns the detail.
  • Never discharge to drain or watercourse. Contain and dispose of as regulated chemical waste.

Transport

m-DNB moves as regulated cargo under UN 1597, Class 6.1. We classify each consignment, apply UN-approved packaging and labelling, and file the dangerous-goods declaration before the booking is made. The applicable packing group is stated on your shipping documents and SDS — ask us for the current DG paperwork when you plan the shipment.

Quality & documentation

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, isomer and residual nitrobenzene content and moisture — checked against your purchase specification before we release the goods.

GHS Safety Data Sheet

Full 16-section SDS in GHS format covering hazards, exposure controls, handling, storage, spill response, toxicology and disposal — issued in the language your destination requires.

Dangerous Goods Declaration

UN 1597, hazard class, packing group and IMDG or IATA declaration prepared and filed before the container is booked, with correctly marked and labelled packaging.

Certificate of Origin

Chamber-attested where required, plus preferential-origin forms where a trade agreement gives your import duty relief at the destination.

Third-party inspection

SGS, Intertek or Bureau Veritas sampling and inspection arranged on request before loading, giving you independent verification of what actually ships.

Retained & pre-shipment samples

Pre-shipment samples carry the same COA as the commercial lot, so what your laboratory qualifies is exactly what arrives. Retention samples held against the batch.

The chemistry

Nitrate twice, then reduce

The meta geometry has to be installed while the ring is deactivated, which fixes the order of operations. The routes below are the general industrial pattern, not a process disclosure.

Nitrate nitrobenzene

A nitro group already on the ring deactivates it and directs the second nitration meta, giving predominantly the 1,3-isomer.

Purify to melting range

Ortho and para isomers and residual nitrobenzene are removed by crystallisation or distillation; what remains shows up as the melting range on the COA.

Reduce selectively or fully

One nitro group reduced gives m-nitroaniline; both reduced gives m-phenylenediamine. The step is strongly exothermic and demands proper thermal control.

Diazotise, couple or polymerise

The resulting amine is taken onward — diazotised and coupled into a dye, or built into a polymer backbone or curing agent.

Why feed quality carries through the whole route

Reduction does not discriminate. Whatever nitroaromatic is in the drum gets reduced alongside the molecule you wanted:

  • o- and p-Dinitrobenzene reduce to the ortho and para diamines, which couple to give the wrong shade and are difficult to separate once formed.
  • Residual nitrobenzene reduces to aniline — a mono-functional contaminant that terminates chains in polymer chemistry and dilutes your diazo component in dye work.
  • Moisture affects catalyst performance in hydrogenation and can shift selectivity in partial reduction.
  • Melting range is the quick practical read on all of the above, which is why buyers watch it as closely as the assay figure.

That is why the batch COA reports melting range and isomer content alongside the assay, and why we share it for approval before dispatch rather than sending it with the invoice.

Related nitro aromatics at a glance
IntermediatePrincipal character
Meta dinitrobenzene
CAS 99-65-0 — this product
Reduction feedstock
Route to meta diamine
2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene
CAS 97-00-7
Substitution substrate
Activated chlorine
Meta nitrochlorobenzene
CAS 121-73-3
Route to m-chloroaniline
One nitro, one chlorine

We supply across the nitro and chloro aromatic range — see the full intermediate range. Send the CAS number and we will confirm the correct material before quoting.

Buying guidance

What actually moves the price of this intermediate

m-DNB is not a commodity with a screen price. Knowing what drives the quote helps you time a purchase and read whether an offer is realistic.

A short producer list

Acute toxicity plus a reproductive-toxicity classification means only plants with full containment and health surveillance can make this material at all. Fewer producers means less price competition and more exposure to any one outage.

  • Containment cost sits inside the price
  • Obligations vary by jurisdiction
  • We check destination rules before quoting

Upstream feedstock

The route runs back through benzene, nitrobenzene and a second mixed-acid nitration. Benzene price, nitric and sulphuric acid cost and acid recovery economics feed through within a quarter or so.

  • Nitrobenzene availability sets the floor
  • Acid recovery weighs on plant economics
  • We flag feedstock-driven moves in the quote

Downstream integration

Several producers reduce their own m-DNB rather than sell it, so merchant availability is a residual of their internal plan. That is why lead times move more than prices do on this product.

  • Merchant volume is the leftover, not the target
  • Quote early for campaign tonnage
  • Contracted call-off smooths the exposure

Pack format

Smaller drums cost more per kilo and, on a material of this toxicity, mean more openings and more handling events. Larger units are usually cheaper and safer at once — if your charging arrangement can take them.

  • Fewer openings means less exposure risk
  • Low-dust forms are worth asking about
  • Packing disposal is a hidden cost at your end

Freight & DG surcharges

Class 6.1 cargo carries a hazardous surcharge and space is tighter than for general cargo. Destination and Incoterm move landed cost as much as the ex-works price does.

  • Compare on landed cost, not ex-works
  • DG space books out ahead of peak season
  • We quote FOB, CIF, CFR or DDP as you prefer

Source availability

A plant turnaround, an environmental inspection or a monsoon disruption can take capacity offline at short notice. On a product with a short producer list, single-sourced buyers feel this hardest.

  • We hold a second qualified source on this line
  • Qualify the alternate before you need it
  • Ask us about dual-source contracts
Grade selection at a glance
If your end use is…Specify
m-Phenylenediamine routeNarrow melting range; low residual nitrobenzene
Selective partial reductionTight isomer limit; low moisture for catalyst life
Polymer / curing agent chainFull impurity profile; mono-functional content limited
Dye & pigment synthesisIsomer limit; colour of reduced product checked
Laboratory / reagentHighest available purity, small DG-compliant pack

Not sure which column you are in? Describe the reduction you are running and our technical desk will recommend the grade — including telling you when a cheaper specification would do the job just as well.

Technical support & compliance

Support that goes beyond shipping the drum

What our technical desk will do

  • Match a grade to your reduction. Catalytic hydrogenation and chemical reduction respond to different impurities — tell us which you run and we will specify accordingly.
  • Be straight about the hazard profile. Fatal by all three routes, reproductive toxicant, organ toxicity on repeated exposure — all stated at enquiry stage.
  • Flag the exotherm for your process safety team. Reduction of a dinitroaromatic is one of the better-documented runaway hazards in fine chemicals, and we put that in writing.
  • Review your specification before it goes into a contract, so you are not locked into a limit that no plant can consistently hit.

Regulatory & compliance notes

  • Reproductive-toxicity obligations are jurisdiction-specific. Many regimes impose substitution reviews, exposure monitoring, health surveillance and restrictions on who may work with the material. Confirm what applies at your site before the first delivery.
  • Import controls vary by destination. We check the 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 because of the aquatic classification. Check your discharge consent against the material before introducing it.

None of the above is legal advice — your own regulatory affairs team owns the final compliance position for your import and your workplace. What we commit to is accurate product identity data, an honest statement of the hazard classification and complete documentation to work from.

How to order

From enquiry to delivered pallet

Send the specification

Product name or CAS 99-65-0, the assay, melting range and isomer limits you work to, 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 shared for your approval before the material is released.

Ship and track

UN 1597 classification filed, DG freight booked, export documents issued, and the consignment tracked through transit and clearance to your plant.

Common questions

What buyers ask us about Meta Dinitrobenzene

How toxic is this material really?
This is one of the more hazardous materials in the nitroaromatic range. Published GHS data classifies it as fatal by the oral, dermal and inhalation routes, as a reproductive toxicant, and as causing organ damage through prolonged or repeated exposure. It is also a potent methaemoglobin former. Involve your EHS and occupational health functions before the first delivery, not after it.
Why is the meta isomer the one that is sold?
Because nitration puts it there. A nitro group already on the ring is strongly deactivating and meta-directing, so nitrating nitrobenzene gives predominantly the 1,3-isomer. The ortho and para dinitrobenzenes are minor by-products — which is exactly why commercial material carries an isomer limit.
What purity do you normally supply?
Commercial material typically assays 99.0% minimum, with ortho and para isomers and residual nitrobenzene reported on the batch COA. Melting range is the quick practical read on all of it. If your reduction step is isomer-sensitive, state a limit and we will quote against it.
Is it thermally stable?
Under ordinary storage, yes — but it is a dinitroaromatic. Reduction is strongly exothermic, reactions with alkalis and reducing agents can run away, and decomposition at elevated temperature can be rapid. Any process that melts, holds or reduces this material should be supported by reaction calorimetry and properly sized relief.
What is the minimum order quantity?
For commercial supply the practical minimum is one UN-approved drum, typically 50 kg net. Laboratory and trial quantities can be dispatched so your R&D team can qualify the grade first, subject to the dangerous-goods rules for your destination and courier.
How long does delivery take?
Stocked quantities typically dispatch within 3–7 working days of order confirmation. Custom-sourced or tighter-spec material usually runs 2–4 weeks. Dangerous-goods space on ocean services should be booked early, particularly ahead of peak season.
How should we store it, and what is the shelf life?
Cool, dry, well-ventilated and strictly access-controlled, out of direct sunlight and away from heat and ignition sources, in tightly closed original packing on a sealed and bunded floor, segregated from reducing agents, alkalis and strong oxidisers. Expect 24 months or more, and re-assay after extended storage.
Is this a dangerous good? What paperwork comes with it?
Yes — it moves under UN 1597, Class 6.1 as regulated cargo. Every consignment leaves us with:
  • Batch certificate of analysis
  • GHS-format safety data sheet
  • Dangerous-goods declaration with UN number, class and packing group
  • Commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading or airway bill
  • Certificate of origin and any destination-specific forms
Do you supply to my country?
We supply across nations, worldwide. This material attracts import controls, notification requirements and workplace obligations in several jurisdictions, and the reproductive-toxicity classification triggers additional duties in some regimes — so we check destination requirements before quoting rather than after.
Do you manufacture this yourself?
No — Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Owning no nitration plant means we are never selling you whatever a captive unit happens to be running. We place your order with whichever qualified producer fits your specification and timeline, and we hold a second source in reserve. Read more about how we work.

Request pricing on Meta Dinitrobenzene

Send your required assay, melting range, isomer 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 — whether that is a single trial pack or a contracted programme for the year.

Email your enquirysource@cheloragroup.com
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