The Nitro group is electron withdrawing, and therefore enhances the reactivity of the carbonyl group in the ester function towards nucleophiles, such as amines and hydrazine. The Nitro group ensures that any derived compounds will be crystalline solids. The Nitro group itself can be converted to a variety of other functional groups, such as hydroxylamine (RNHOH) and amine (RNH2) which can be used as building blocks for more complicated structures: anilines (derived from reducing NO2 to NH2) can be converted easily to quinolones with antibiotic properties generally. Solution The Nitro group is electron withdrawing, and therefore enhances the reactivity of the carbonyl group in the ester function towards nucleophiles, such as amines and hydrazine. The Nitro group ensures that any derived compounds will be crystalline solids. The Nitro group itself can be converted to a variety of other functional groups, such as hydroxylamine (RNHOH) and amine (RNH2) which can be used as building blocks for more complicated structures: anilines (derived from reducing NO2 to NH2) can be converted easily to quinolones with antibiotic properties generally..