Nitrophenols from exposed soils

Abstract

A homologous series of nitro-alkylphenols has been isolated from the odoriferous oil extracted from rocks, clays, and silicate minerals, which have been exposed to the atmosphere. A relatively large amount of another nitro-hydroxy compound, possibly a derivative of diphenyl, is also present in the oil. The most likely origin of these compounds, or their precursors, is alkylphenols liberated into the atmosphere from plant material.