Isopropyl nitrite

Isopropyl nitrite

Clinical data
Other names	Isopropyl alcohol nitrite; nitrous acid, isopropyl ester; 1-methylethyl nitrite; 2-propyl nitrite
ATC code	None
Identifiers
IUPAC name 2-propyl nitrite
CAS Number	541-42-4 Y
PubChem CID	10929
ChemSpider	10466 Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID3052191
ECHA InfoCard	100.007.982
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C3H7NO2
Molar mass	89.09 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
Density	0.8684 g/cm3
Boiling point	40 °C (104 °F)
SMILES O=NOC(C)C
InChI InChI=1S/C3H7NO2/c1-3(2)6-4-5/h3H,1-2H3 Y Key:SKRDXYBATCVEMS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
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The chemical compound isopropyl nitrite (or 2-propyl nitrite) is an alkyl nitrite made from isopropanol. It is a clear pale yellow oil.

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, which may be reversible.

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.