Four nitroparaffins are commercially available. These four, nitromethane, nitroethane, 1‐nitropropane, and 2‐nitropropane, are medium‐boiling liquids which are excellent solvents for a wide variety organic compounds and polymers. Some physical properties of these nitroparaffins and a few higher mononitroparaffins and polynitro compounds are presented. The nitroparaffins can undergo a number of reactions which give them utility for synthesis of other compounds of commercial importance. These reactions are discussed. Of particular importance is their ability to form nitronate salts with alkalis. This reaction is the first step for the halogenation reaction, eg, for the synthesis of the fumigant chloropicrin, or the condensation with carbonyl compounds for the synthesis of nitro alcohols.
Production of the four commercial nitroparaffins is by vapor‐phase nitration of propane with nitric acid. Some 41,000 t of mixed nitroparaffins can be produced annually. All the nitroparaffins are flammable liquids. Their principal hazard is by inhalation. Special attention is required for handling nitromethane because it can be detonated under certain circumstances. The bulk of nitroparaffin production is used for synthesis of other chemical products. Nitromethane is useful as a fuel in drag racing and model airplanes, however, and nitroethane and 1‐nitropropane see use as solvent in coatings.