Isopropyl nitrite

The chemical compound isopropyl nitrite (or 2-propyl nitrite) is an alkyl nitrite made from isopropanol. It is a clear pale yellow oil.[1]

Isopropyl nitrite
Clinical data
Other namesIsopropyl alcohol nitrite; nitrous acid, isopropyl ester; 1-methylethyl nitrite; 2-propyl nitrite
ATC code
  • None
Identifiers
CAS Number
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
ECHA InfoCard100.007.982
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC3H7NO2
Molar mass89.09 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
Density0.8684 g/cm3
Boiling point40 °C (104 °F)
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Applications

Isopropyl nitrite is one of the compounds used as poppers, an inhalant drug that induces a brief euphoria. Isopropyl nitrite has largely replaced isobutyl nitrite in poppers.

Safety

Isopropyl nitrite has been associated with eye maculopathy, visual impairment with central scotomata, bilateral foveal yellow spots, and inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS) junction disruption,[2] which may be reversible.[3]

The compound may also be potentially harmful to human body—inhaling isopropyl nitrite (and other alkyl nitrites) vapor can dilate the sphincter muscles and cause headaches and extremely low blood pressure as well as increased body temperature, even death[4].

References
  1. Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, CRC Press, 85th edition
  2. Davies, AJ; Kelly, SP; Naylor, SG; Bhatt, PR; Mathews, JP; Sahni, J; Haslett, R; McKibbin, M (2012). "Adverse ophthalmic reaction in poppers users: case series of 'poppers maculopathy'". Eye (Lond). 26: 1479–86. doi:10.1038/eye.2012.191. PMC 3496104. PMID 23079752.
  3. Inserm. "Des pertes visuelles chez les consommateurs de poppers". www.inserm.fr (in French). Retrieved 2017-01-23.
  4. [citation needed]
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