Creosol Explained

Creosol should not be confused with cresol.

Creosol is a chemical compound with the molecular formula C₈H₁₀O₂. It is one of the components of creosote. Compared with phenol, creosol is a less toxic disinfectant.

Sources

Sources of creosol include:

• Coal tar creosote
• Wood creosote
• Reduction product of vanillin using zinc powder in strong hydrochloric acid (Clemmensen reduction)
• Found as glycosides in green vanilla beans^[1]
• It is also found in tequila.^[2]

Reactions

Creosol reacts with hydrogen halides to give a catechol.

See also

• Vanillin, a related phenol

Notes and References

1. Identification of glucosides in green beans of Vanilla planifolia Andrews and kinetics of vanilla β-glucosidase . Food Chemistry . 85 . 2 . 2004 . 199–205 . 10.1016/S0308-8146(03)00293-0 . Dignum . Mark J.W. . Van Der Heijden . Rob . Kerler . Josef . Winkel . Chris . Verpoorte . Rob.
2. Characterization of volatile compounds from ethnic Agave alcoholic beverages by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. León-Rodríguez, A. de, Escalante-Minakata, P., Jiménez-García, M. I., Ordoñez-Acevedo, L. G., Flores Flores, J. L. and Barba de la Rosa, A. P., Food Technology and Biotechnology, 2008, Volume 46, Number 4, pages 448-455 (abstract)