Methyl 4-methylbenzoate Chemical Properties

Melting point:

32-35 °C (lit.)

Boiling point:

103-104 °C/15 mmHg (lit.)

Density 

1.06

vapor density 

4.7 (vs air)

vapor pressure 

1 mm Hg ( 39 °C)

refractive index 

1.5002 (estimate)

Flash point:

90 °C

storage temp. 

Sealed in dry,Room Temperature

solubility 

Chloroform (Slightly), DMSO (Slightly), Ethyl Acetate (Slightly)

form 

Solid

color 

White to Off-White

Odor

Very tenacious, powerful, sweet anisic-floral odor with some resemblance to notes in Ylang-Ylang.

Odor Type

anisic

explosive limit

1-9.5%(V)

Water Solubility 

<0.1 g/100 mL at 22 ºC

BRN 

1100609

Dielectric constant

4.3（33℃）

Stability:

Unstable in Solution

LogP

2.7 at 25℃

CAS DataBase Reference

99-75-2(CAS DataBase Reference)

NIST Chemistry Reference

Benzoic acid, 4-methyl-, methyl ester(99-75-2)

EPA Substance Registry System

Methyl-p-toluate (99-75-2)

Safety Information

Hazard Codes 

Xi

Risk Statements 

36/37/38

Safety Statements 

37/39-26-36

WGK Germany 

2

RTECS 

XU2150000

Autoignition Temperature

932 °F

TSCA 

Yes

HS Code 

29163900

Hazardous Substances Data

99-75-2(Hazardous Substances Data)

Toxicity

LD50 oral in rat: 3300mg/kg

MSDS

• Language:English Provider:p-Toluic acid methyl ester
• Language:English Provider:SigmaAldrich
• Language:English Provider:ACROS
• Language:English Provider:ALFA

Methyl 4-methylbenzoate Usage And Synthesis

Chemical Properties

white low melting crystalline solid and/or

Uses

Organic synthesis.

Uses

Methyl p-toluate has been employesd as catalyst to investigate the effect of internal/external donor pair in high-yield catalysts for propylene polymerization.

Application

Methyl 4-methylbenzoate offers interesting and pleasant variations in the Methylbenzoate theme in Ylang-Ylang, and it introdums powerful, floral notes in soap and detergent perfumes or, thanks to its low cost, it may be used even in fragrances for masking of industrial odors.

Synthesis Reference(s)

The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 54, p. 1144, 1989 DOI: 10.1021/jo00266a028
Synthetic Communications, 20, p. 3273, 1990

General Description

Opaque colorless to white shiny crystalline solid. Intense unpleasant odor.

Air & Water Reactions

Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

Methyl 4-methylbenzoate is an ester. Esters react with acids to liberate heat along with alcohols and acids. Strong oxidizing acids may cause a vigorous reaction that is sufficiently exothermic to ignite the reaction products. Heat is also generated by the interaction of esters with caustic solutions. Flammable hydrogen is generated by mixing esters with alkali metals and hydrides.

Fire Hazard

Methyl 4-methylbenzoate is combustible.

Methyl 4-methylbenzoate(99-75-2)Related Product Information

• Methanol
• Methyl 3-(bromomethyl)benzoate
• Methyl anisate
• Methylparaben
• Kresoxim-methyl
• Acetonitrile
• Methyl 4-trifluoromethylbenzoate
• Methyl 3-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate
• Methyl 4-cyanobenzoate
• Methyl 2-bromobenzoate
• Methyl 4-formylbenzoate
• Methyl 4-(bromomethyl)benzoate
• Basic Violet 1
• Methyl benzoate
• Methyl acrylate
• Methyl acetate
• Paraquat dichloride
• Ethyl 4-methylbenzoate