[5] It undergoes the reactions typical for nitrobenzene derivatives, e.g. hydrogenation gives p-toluidine.

Depending on the conditions, oxidation yields 4-nitrobenzaldehyde diacetate,[6] 4-nitrobenzenoic acid,[7] and 4,4'-dinitrobibenzyl.

[9] The principal application involves its sulfonation to give the 4-nitrotoluene-2-sulfonic acid (with the –SO3H group adjacent to methyl).

This species can be oxidatively coupled to produce stilbene derivatives,[10] which are used as dyes.

[11] Representative derivatives include the molecular and salt forms of 4,4'-dinitroso- and the 4,4'-dinitro-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acids, e.g. disodium 4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate.