Ortho Nitrotoluene
One of the two major products of toluene nitration, and the feedstock behind o-toluidine for dye, pigment and crop protection manufacture. It is also the isomer with the most demanding regulatory profile in the family — a classified carcinogen, which changes how it must be stored, handled and documented rather than simply what the drum label says.
Chelora Chemicals supplies o-nitrotoluene worldwide in UN-approved drums, with a batch COA and GHS safety data sheet on every consignment, and with the classification stated at enquiry stage rather than discovered on arrival.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 88-72-2
- IUPAC name
- 1-Methyl-2-nitrobenzene
- Molecular formula
- C7H7NO2
- Molecular weight
- 137.14 g/mol
- EC / EINECS
- 201-853-3
- UN Number
- 1664 · Class 6.1
- SMILES
- Cc1ccccc1[N+](=O)[O-]
- HS Code
- 2904 20*
* Confirm the exact HS heading with your customs broker — nitro derivatives of hydrocarbons can sit under different subheadings depending on the destination tariff schedule.
What Ortho Nitrotoluene is used for
Ortho nitrotoluene is a yellow oily liquid that stays liquid through normal ambient conditions — unlike its para sibling, which is a solid. Commercially it exists chiefly to be reduced to o-toluidine, the aniline that carries a methyl group next to the amine.
That ortho relationship is what downstream chemistry wants. o-Toluidine is diazotised into azo dyes and pigments, condensed into crop protection actives, and used in a range of fine chemical structures where a 2-methyl aniline fragment is required. A smaller stream of demand oxidises or further substitutes the nitrotoluene ring directly.
Why the isomer decides everything
- Ortho nitrotoluene (CAS 88-72-2) — this product. A liquid; reduces to o-toluidine. Carries the most severe classification of the three.
- Para nitrotoluene (CAS 99-99-0) — a solid setting near 52 °C; reduces to p-toluidine and sulphonates to PNTOSA for optical brighteners. See that page.
- Meta nitrotoluene (CAS 99-08-1) — the scarce minority isomer; reduces to m-toluidine. See that page.
- Dinitrotoluenes — two nitro groups, a different chain again, and a materially different hazard position.
On this product family the CAS number is not a formality. Always state it on the purchase order — see the full intermediate range.
Appearance and handling character
The material ships as a yellow to amber liquid, practically insoluble in water and miscible with alcohol, ether and most organic solvents. It is absorbed through intact skin, is a methaemoglobin former and carries a carcinogenicity classification — so exposure minimisation, rather than exposure control to a threshold, is the right design principle. The safety section below should be read before any handling is planned.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Yellow to amber liquid |
| Assay | 99.0% min |
| Para isomer | Reported per batch |
| Meta isomer | Reported per batch |
| Dinitrotoluene | Reported per batch |
| Moisture | 0.2% 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. Tell us your isomer ceilings and we will quote against them rather than against a generic grade.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Liquid at ambient |
| Melting point | ≈ −4 °C (α-form) |
| Boiling point | ≈ 222 °C @ 760 mmHg |
| Flash point | ≈ 106 °C |
| Relative density | ≈ 1.163 @ 20 °C |
| Water solubility | Practically insoluble |
| Organic solubility | Miscible with alcohol, ether, benzene |
| Vapour pressure | Low at ambient |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 88-72-2 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put this molecule to work
Reduction is the common first step across almost every route. What differs is what the resulting o-toluidine is built into.
o-Toluidine production
Catalytic reduction of the nitro group gives o-toluidine — the working intermediate of this chain and the reason most buyers purchase the nitro compound at all.
- Catalytic hydrogenation route
- Isomer content carries through
- Downstream amine is itself classified
Azo dye & pigment chemistry
Diazotised o-toluidine couples into azo dyes and pigments, where the ortho methyl group influences shade, crystal habit and fastness in the finished colourant.
- Yellow and red pigment chemistry
- Shade sensitive to isomer content
- Colour-critical specification on request
Crop protection intermediates
Methyl-substituted anilines appear in several herbicide and fungicide routes where the substitution pattern governs activity and metabolic stability.
- End-use declaration required
- Custom synthesis quantities available
- Technical desk review of your route
Fine chemical synthesis
Further ring substitution, oxidation of the methyl group and reductive cyclisations all start from this molecule in speciality and intermediate manufacture.
- Consistent assay matters for yield
- Full impurity profile available
- Technical desk support on request
Laboratory & reference use
Small quantities serve as reference standards and in method development for nitrotoluene isomer analysis — a real analytical problem in this product family.
- Reference-grade material on request
- Small DG-compliant packs
- Full analytical documentation available
Contract & scheduled supply
Downstream 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
How we supply Ortho Nitrotoluene
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. On a product with a classification this demanding, that matters in a specific way: we are not trying to place material from a captive unit, so we have no reason to be anything other than blunt with you about what you are buying.
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.
- Classification stated at enquiry stage. Carcinogen category 1B is not a footnote on the SDS — we raise it in the first reply so your EHS team can decide before the PO, not after.
- Isomer confirmed before we quote. Ortho, meta and para feed three different chains at three different prices, and this is where orders on this family go wrong most often.
- Isomer content reported, not averaged. Para and meta content appear as their own figures on the COA, because that is what your reduction step actually responds to.
- Batch COA shared before dispatch. You approve assay, isomer profile and moisture against your own spec while the material is still in our warehouse.
- 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 1664 classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
Packed the way your plant receives it
With this classification, the right pack is the one that minimises open handling at your end. Tell us how you will discharge it and we will quote accordingly.
UN steel drums
Lined or plain MS drums to UN specification for Class 6.1 liquids — the standard commercial format, pallet-stacked and strapped.
IBC / composite tanks
Fewer open transfers per tonne charged, which on a classified material is a control measure and not just a convenience.
Bulk liquid movement
For contracted tonnage, ISO tank movement into a closed receipt system is available subject to the DG position at origin and destination.
Samples & trial packs
Laboratory and pilot quantities dispatched so your R&D team can qualify the grade first — subject to DG rules for your destination and courier.
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.
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.
The isomer with the most demanding classification
2-Nitrotoluene is classified as a category 1B carcinogen, with additional mutagenicity and reproductive-toxicity concerns, alongside the methaemoglobin-forming behaviour common to the whole nitroaromatic class. That means the design goal is exposure minimisation, not exposure control to a comfortable number. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your consignment is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H350May cause cancer.H341Suspected of causing genetic defects.H361fSuspected of damaging fertility.H302Harmful if swallowed.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 88-72-2. The nitrotoluene isomers do not share one classification — do not carry an SDS position across from the meta or para isomer to this one. Always read the SDS issued with your specific batch.
Spill & emergency orientation
Plan your response before the drums arrive. Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the SDS are the authoritative instructions and should be posted at the point of use.
- Contain, do not hose to drain. H411 applies — bund the spill, absorb with inert material and dispose of it as regulated chemical waste.
- Treat any contact as significant. With a carcinogen classification there is no "small acceptable splash" — remove contaminated clothing immediately and wash thoroughly.
- Expect delayed presentation of acute effects. Methaemoglobinaemia may appear some hours after exposure; a casualty who feels fine should still be assessed, with the SDS in hand.
- Restrict the response team. Only trained personnel with the right PPE should enter a spill area, and the entry should be recorded.
- Reduction is exothermic. Catalytic reduction of a nitroaromatic releases substantial heat — calorimetry and properly sized relief belong in the process design.
Storage
- Cool, dry, well-ventilated and access-controlled store, away from direct sunlight, heat and ignition sources.
- Access control is a formal measure here. With a carcinogen classification, a documented list of who may enter and handle the material is typically part of the compliance position, not just good housekeeping.
- Keep drums tightly closed on a sealed and bunded floor with spill kit to hand.
- Segregate from reducing agents, alkalis and strong oxidisers.
- Shelf life is typically 24 months or more in sealed original drums. Re-assay before use after long storage.
Handling & PPE
- Minimise rather than control. Closed transfer and dedicated lines first, local exhaust second, PPE last — and document why any open handling step still exists.
- Chemical-resistant gloves, apron and face protection, with contaminated clothing removed, bagged and handled as contaminated waste rather than sent to an ordinary laundry.
- Exposure monitoring and health surveillance are commonly required for classified carcinogens — your occupational health provider owns the detail for your jurisdiction.
- Record retention. Several regimes require exposure records to be kept for decades. Set that up before the first delivery, not after an inspection.
- Never discharge to drain or watercourse. H411 applies — contain and dispose of as regulated chemical waste.
Transport
Liquid nitrotoluenes move as regulated cargo under UN 1664, 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.
What travels with every consignment
A chemical shipment is only as good as the file that travels with it. On a classified material that file is also part of your compliance record.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-specific assay, para and meta isomer content, dinitrotoluene and moisture — checked against your purchase specification before release.
GHS Safety Data Sheet
Full 16-section SDS in GHS format, with the carcinogenicity classification and the exposure-minimisation duties it implies clearly set out — issued in the language your destination requires.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN 1664, 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.
Where the methyl group sends the nitro group
Toluene's methyl group directs nitration ortho and para, which is why this isomer is a major product rather than a scarce one. The routes below are the general industrial pattern, not a process disclosure.
Nitrate toluene
Mixed-acid nitration gives mainly the ortho and para isomers, with meta as a small minority fraction.
Separate the isomers
Distillation and crystallisation split the mixture. What remains shows up as the para and meta figures on the COA.
Reduce to o-toluidine
Catalytic reduction converts the nitro group to an amine, carrying residual isomers through as the corresponding toluidines.
Diazotise or condense
From o-toluidine the chain splits — diazotisation into colourants, or condensation into crop protection and speciality structures.
Why feed quality carries through the whole route
Reduction is not a purification step. Whatever is in the drum becomes something in your product:
- Para and meta nitrotoluene reduce to p- and m-toluidine, which carry into your downstream chemistry as the wrong substitution pattern. This is the most consequential impurity on the product.
- Dinitrotoluene residues are more reactive again, add to the exotherm and consume hydrogen and catalyst.
- Moisture affects catalyst life and selectivity in the reduction step.
- Colour on the incoming liquid is a quick read on oxidation and storage history, which is why buyers note it alongside the assay.
That is why we quote against your written isomer limits rather than a generic "technical" grade, and why the batch COA is shared for approval before dispatch rather than sent with the invoice.
| Intermediate | Downstream chain |
|---|---|
| Ortho nitrotoluene CAS 88-72-2 — this product | o-Toluidine Dyes, pigments, agro |
| Para nitrotoluene CAS 99-99-0 | p-Toluidine, PNTOSA Dyes, optical brighteners |
| Meta nitrotoluene CAS 99-08-1 | m-Toluidine Dyes, amines, specialities |
We supply across the nitrotoluene 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 intermediate
Knowing what drives the quote helps you time a purchase and read whether an offer is realistic.
Compliance cost is embedded
A classified carcinogen is more expensive to make, store and ship than an otherwise similar molecule. Containment, monitoring and record-keeping obligations sit inside the price you are quoted.
- Expect compliance cost in the number
- Very cheap offers deserve scrutiny
- We check destination rules before quoting
Ortho / para balance
One nitration line produces both major isomers and the plant's economics depend on selling both. If para demand is strong, ortho is plentiful; if it collapses, ortho carries more of the overhead.
- Ask us what the para market is doing
- Isomer prices move together, not alone
- Contracted call-off smooths the exposure
Upstream feedstock
Toluene, nitric acid and oleum economics feed through within a quarter or so. Oleum is the dehydrating half of the mixed acid and its cost tracks the sulphur cycle.
- Toluene tracks the aromatics cycle
- See Oleum 23%
- We flag feedstock-driven moves in the quote
Agrochemical season
Crop protection demand is seasonal and lumpy. When formulators build stock, lead times on toluidine feedstocks stretch before prices move.
- Book ahead of the season
- Lead time moves before price moves
- Scheduled release protects your campaign
Freight & DG surcharges
Class 6.1 liquid 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. 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
| If your end use is… | Specify |
|---|---|
| Reduction to o-toluidine | Tight para and meta ceilings; low moisture |
| Azo dye & pigment chemistry | Isomer limits; colour of incoming liquid |
| Crop protection route | Full impurity profile; end-use declaration |
| Fine chemical synthesis | High assay; low dinitro residue |
| Laboratory / reference | Highest available purity, small DG-compliant pack |
Not sure which column you are in? Describe what you make from it and our technical desk will recommend the grade — including telling you when a cheaper specification would do the job just as well.
Support that goes beyond shipping the drum
What our technical desk will do
- Raise the classification first. Before price, before lead time — because if your site cannot meet the handling obligations, nothing else about the enquiry matters.
- Confirm the isomer. Ortho, meta and para feed different chains, and we settle which one you need in the first reply.
- Set the isomer ceilings with you. They decide what your reduction step actually produces, and they are the numbers most often left vague on a purchase order.
- 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
- Carcinogen duties are jurisdiction-specific and substantial. Exposure minimisation, monitoring, health surveillance, restricted access and long record retention are commonly required. Confirm what applies at your site before the first delivery.
- Downstream matters too. o-Toluidine carries its own serious classification — your control thinking has to extend past the reduction step.
- 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 H411 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.
From enquiry to delivered pallet
Send the specification
Product name or CAS 88-72-2, your assay and isomer limits, 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 1664 classification filed, DG freight booked, export documents issued, and the consignment tracked through transit and clearance to your plant.
What buyers ask us about Ortho Nitrotoluene
How does it differ from the meta and para isomers?
Why does the classification of this isomer matter so much?
What purity do you normally supply?
What is it used to make?
What is the minimum order quantity?
How long does delivery take?
How should we store it, and what is the shelf life?
Is this a dangerous good? What paperwork comes with it?
- 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
Is it absorbed through the skin?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Request pricing on Ortho Nitrotoluene
Send your required assay, isomer ceilings, 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, packing options and the full hazard documentation you will need before the first delivery.