Methoxytoluene Explained

Methoxytoluenes (methylanisoles or cresyl methyl ethers) are a group of three isomeric organic compounds with the formula CH₃OC₆H₄CH₃. They consist of a disubstituted benzene ring with methoxy group and one methyl group. All three are colorless flammable liquids which are soluble in organic solvents but poorly soluble in water. They are not of major commercial interest although they are precursors to the corresponding methoxybenzoic acids and methoxybenzaldehydes.^[1]

Chemical properties

align="center" colspan="4"	Methoxytoluene Isomers
Common names	2-Methoxytoluene 2-Methylanisole Ortho cresyl methyl ether	3-Methoxytoluene 3-Methylanisole Meta cresyl methyl ether	4-Methoxytoluene 4-Methylanisole Para cresyl methyl ether
Structure
PubChem number	[33637]	[7530]	[7731]
CAS number	[578-58-5]	[100-84-5]	[104-93-8]
Melting point	-34.1 °C (−31 °F; 238 K)	-47 °C (−52.6 °F; 226 K)	-23 °C (44.6 °F; 280 K)
Boiling point	171 °C (318.2 °F; 432 K)	175.5 °C (323.6 °F; 435 K)	175.5 °C (323.6 °F; 435 K)
Density	0.9798 g/cm^3	0.9716 g/cm^3	0.969 g/cm^3

See also

• Phenetole, a structural isomer

References

1. Alkane Oxidation with Molecular Oxygen Using a New Efficient Catalytic System: N-Hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) Combined with Co(acac)_n (n = 2 or 3). Yasutaka Ishii . Takahiro Iwahama . Satoshi Sakaguchi . Kouichi Nakayama . Yutaka Nishiyama . J. Org. Chem.. 1996. 61. 14. 4520–4526. 10.1021/jo951970l. 11667375.