3279. Dinitrocresol

Nomenclature

CAS number: 534-52-1
2-Methyl-4,6-dinitrophenol; 4,6-dinitro-o-cresol; 3,5-dinitro-2-hydroxytoluene; 3,5-dinitro-o-cresol; DN; DNC; DNOC; Antinonnin; Detal; Dinitrol; Elgetol; K III; K IV; Ditrosol; Prokarbol; Effusan; Lipan; Selinon; Sinox; Dekrysil.
C7H6N2O5; mol wt 198.13.
C 42.43%, H 3.05%, N 14.14%, O 40.38%.

Description and references

Prepd by sulfonation of o-cresol followed by controlled nitration: Noelting, de Salis, Ber. 14, 987 (1881); Bovini, Chem. Zentralbl. 1928, II, 112; Bures, C.A. 22, 63 (1928); Datta, Varma, J. Indian Chem. Soc. 4, 321 (1927); Monti, Cianetti, Gazz. Chim. Ital. 67, 628 (1937). Acute toxicity data: R. Ben-Dyke et al., World Rev. Pest Control 9, 119-127 (1970). Review of toxicology and human exposure: Toxicological Profile for Dinitrocresols (PB95-264321, 1995) 204 pp.

Chemical structure

Properties

Yellow prisms from alc, mp 87.5°. Poisonous. Moderately volatile with steam. Sparingly sol in water; readily sol in alkaline aq solns, in ether, acetone, alcohol (about 10%); sparingly sol in petr ether. LD50 in rats (mg/kg): 25-40 orally, 200-600 dermally (Ben-Dyke).

Derivative

Sodium salt.
C7H5N2O5Na; mol wt 220.11.
C 38.20%, H 2.29%, N 12.73%, O 36.34%, Na 10.44%.

Properties

Red powder. Hydrate, yellow needles. Very freely sol in water.

Caution

Potential symptoms of overexposure to dinitrocresol are a sense of well being; headache, fever, lassitude, profuse sweating, excessive thirst, tachycardia, hyperpnea, coughing, shortness of breath and coma. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140, 1997) p 118. See also Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products, R. E. Gosselin et al., Eds. (Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 5th ed., 1984) Section II, p 196.

Use

Selective herbicide, insecticide (ovicidal spray for dormant fruit trees).