2-Nitrotoluene or ortho-nitrotoluene is an organic compound with the formula CH<sub>3</sub>C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>4</sub>NO<sub>2</sub>. It is pale yellow liquid that crystallizes in two forms, called ñ (âÂÂ9.27 ðC) and ò (âÂÂ3.17 ðC). It is mainly a precursor to o-toluidine, which is an intermediate in the production of various dyes.
It is made by nitrating toluene at above âÂÂ10 ðC. This reaction affords a 2:1 mixture of 2-nitro and 4-nitro isomers.
Chlorination of 2-nitrotoluene gives two isomers of the chloronitrotoluenes. Similarly nitration gives two isomers of dinitrotoluene.
2-Nitrotoluene is mainly consumed in the production of o-toluidine, a precursor to dyes.