C4-Benzenes Explained

The C₄-benzenes are a class of organic aromatic compounds which contain a benzene ring and four other carbon atoms. There are three tetramethylbenzenes, six dimethylethylbenzenes, three diethylbenzenes, three isopropylmethylbenzenes, three n-propylmethylbenzenes and four butylbenzenes. The saturated compounds have formula C₁₀H₁₄ and molecular weight 134.22 g/mol. C₄-benzenes are found in petroleum.^[1] Petrol (gasoline) can contain 5-8% C₄-benzenes.^[2]

Cymenes

• o-Cymene
• m-Cymene
• p-Cymene

Tetramethylbenzenes

• prehnitene
• isodurene
• durene

Other

Saturated

• 1,2,3-Ethyldimethylbenzene
• 1,2,4-Ethyldimethylbenzene
• 1,2,5-Ethyldimethylbenzene
• 1,2,6-Ethyldimethylbenzene
• 1,3,4-Ethyldimethylbenzene
• 1,2,5-Ethyldimethylbenzene
• ortho-diethylbenzene
• meta-diethylbenzene
• para-diethylbenzene
• 1,2-Propylmethylbenzene
• 1,3-Propylmethylbenzene
• 1,4-Propylmethylbenzene
• n-Butylbenzene
• sec-Butylbenzene
• tert-Butylbenzene
• Isobutylbenzene

Unsaturated

• Divinylbenzene

Notes and References

1. Hill. Ronald J.. Lu. Shan-tan. Tang. Yongchun. Henry. Mitchell. Kaplan. Isaac R.. C4-benzene and C4-naphthalene thermal maturity indicators for pyrolysates, oils and condensates. The Geochemical Society Special Publications. 2004. 9. 303–319. 10.1016/S1873-9881(04)80022-1. 9780444516473.
2. Book: Kostecki. Paul T.. Calabrese. Edward J.. Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soils. 1993. CRC Press. 9781566700184. 217. en.