Ethyltolune describes organic compounds with the formula . Three isomers exist: 1,2- 1,3-, and 1,4-. All are colorless liquids, immiscible in water, with similar boiling points. They are classified are aromatic hydrocarbons. The ring bears two substituents: a methyl group and an ethyl group.
| Cymenes | ||||
| Name | 2-ethyltoluene | 3-ethyltoluene | 4-Ethyltoluene | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structural formula | ||||
| CAS number | 611-14-3 | 620-14-4 | 622-96-8 | |
| melting point | -80.8 | -95.5 | -62.3 | |
| boiling point (°C) | 165 | 161.3 | 162 | |
Ethyltoluenes are prepared by alkylation of toluene with ethylene:
These alkylations are catalyzed by various Lewis acids, such as aluminium trichloride.
3- and 4-Ethyltoluenes are mainly of interest as precursors to methylstyrenes:
This dehydrogenation is conducted in the presence of zinc oxide catalysts.[1]