Aliphatic nitro compounds can be synthesized by various methods; notable examples include:
*Free radical nitration of alkanes. The reaction produces fragments from the parent alkane, creating a diverse mixture of products; for instance, nitromethane, nitroethane, 1-nitropropane, and 2-nitropropane are produced by treating propane with nitric acid in the gas phase (e.g. 350–450 °C and 8–12 atm).
*Nucleophilic substitution reactions between halocarbons or organosulfates with silver or alkali nitrite salts.
*Nitromethane can be produced in the laboratory by treating sodium chloroacetate with sodium nitrite.
*Oxidation of oximes or primary amines.
*Reduction of β-nitro alcohols or nitroalkenes.
*By decarboxylation of α-nitro carboxylic acids formed from nitriles and ethyl nitrate.