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2-Methyl-2-nitrosopropane
IUPAC name	2-Methyl-2-nitrosopropane
Other names	t-Nitrosobutane
Identifiers
Abbreviations	NMP (uncommon as it is likely to be confused with N-methylpyrrolidone)
CAS number	6841-96-9
PubChem	23272
SMILES	O=NC(C)(C)C
InChI	1/C4H9NO/c1-4(2,3)5-6/h1-3H3
InChI key	LUQZKEZPFQRRRK-UHFFFAOYAH
ChemSpider ID	21764
Properties
Molecular formula	C4H9NO
Molar mass	87.12 g/mol
Appearance	white crystals / blue liquid
Melting point	78°C (dimer)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

2-Methyl-2-nitrosopropane (MNP or t-nitrosobutane, chemical formula (CH₃)₃CNO) can be prepared by catalytic oxidation of (CH₃)₃CNH₂ using hydrogen peroxide and sodium tungstate. Depending on the temperature and solvent, it is either dimeric and colorless or monomeric and blue^[1]. It can be used as a spin trap. This molecule traps unstable free radicals to form stable paramagnetic nitroxide radicals that can be detected and analized by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. It is particularly useful for trapping carbon-centered tyrosyl radicals.^[2]

MNP is also the aerial oxidation product of t-butylhydroxylamine (NtBHA), which in turn is a hydrolysis product of phenylbutylnitrone and similar spintraps. MNP has pharmacological action, both by scavenging free radicals and possibly by releasing the messenger substance nitric oxide in the presence of light and under oxidizing conditions.^[3] Production of NtHBA and its parent spintrap MNP may account for the sometime antistroke action of the drug NXY-059.

MNP is also an efficient regulator of the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate through the 'pseudoliving' chain mechanism.^[4]

[edit] See also

• Nitroso

[edit] References