4-Methylbenzyl alcohol Chemical Properties

Melting point:

59-61 °C(lit.)

Boiling point:

217 °C(lit.)

Density 

0,98 g/cm³

vapor pressure 

1.6Pa at 25℃

refractive index 

1.5265 (estimate)

FEMA 

4624 | 4-METHYLBENZYL ALCOHOL

Flash point:

116-118°C/20mm

storage temp. 

Sealed in dry,Room Temperature

form 

Crystalline Mass, Needles, or Crystals

pka

14.49±0.10(Predicted)

color 

White

Odor

mild floral

Odor Type

floral

Water Solubility 

Soluble in methanol, ether and ethanol. Slightly soluble in water.

JECFA Number

2065

BRN 

1856550

LogP

1.67 at 20℃

CAS DataBase Reference

589-18-4(CAS DataBase Reference)

NIST Chemistry Reference

Benzenemethanol, 4-methyl-(589-18-4)

EPA Substance Registry System

4-Methylbenzenemethanol (589-18-4)

Safety Information

Hazard Codes 

Xi

Risk Statements 

36/37/38

Safety Statements 

26-37/39

WGK Germany 

2

RTECS 

DO9370000

TSCA 

Yes

HS Code 

29062990

Hazardous Substances Data

589-18-4(Hazardous Substances Data)

MSDS

• Language:English Provider:4-Methylbenzyl alcohol
• Language:English Provider:SigmaAldrich
• Language:English Provider:ACROS
• Language:English Provider:ALFA

4-Methylbenzyl alcohol Usage And Synthesis

Chemical Properties

white crystalline mass, needles or crystals

Uses

Perfumery, flavoring dyes, laboratory reagent.

Uses

4-Methylbenzyl alcohol is used in fragrances, flavoring and as a laboratory reagent. It is also used as a raw material for the preparation of polycarbonates and 4-methyl-benzaldehyde.

Production Methods

p-Tolyl alcohol is commercially prepared by reducing p-tolyl aldehyde. It is used mainly in fragrances, and the major route of exposure is likely to be dermal contact.

Definition

ChEBI: A methylbenzyl alcohol in which the methyl substituent is para to the hydroxymethyl group.

Synthesis Reference(s)

The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 52, p. 946, 1987 DOI: 10.1021/jo00381a047

General Description

Needles or off-white crystalline powder.

Air & Water Reactions

Slightly soluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

4-Methylbenzyl alcohol can react with acids, acid chlorides, acid anhydrides and oxidizing agents.

Health Hazard

ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: When heated to decomposition 4-Methylbenzyl alcohol emits acrid smoke and toxic fumes of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.

Fire Hazard

Flash point data for 4-Methylbenzyl alcohol are not available. 4-Methylbenzyl alcohol is probably combustible.

Flammability and Explosibility

Not classified

Purification Methods

Crystallise the alcohol from pet ether (b 80-100o, 1g/mL), Et2O, pentane or H2O (m 61-62.1o). It can also be distilled in a vacuum. [Beilstein 6 H 498, 6 I 248, 6 II 469, 6 III 1779.]

4-Methylbenzyl alcohol(589-18-4)Related Product Information

• 4-Nitrobenzyl alcohol
• Isopropyl-α-[2-methylhydrazino]-p-toluamide
• 3-Nitrobenzyl alcohol
• Ethyl acetate
• 2,2,6,6-Tetramethyl-4-piperidinol
• Benzyl alcohol
• Benzhydrol
• Methyl cyclopentenolone
• 2-Methyl-1-phenyl-2-propanol
• 3-Methyl butynol
• Triphenylmethanol
• 4-Hydroxybenzyl alcohol
• 2-Methylbenzyl chloride
• 2-PHENYL-2-PROPANOL
• Phenethyl alcohol
• DL-1-Phenethylalcohol
• DL-ALPHA-(METHYLAMINOMETHYL)BENZYL ALCOHOL
• 2,4,6-Trimethylbenzyl alcohol