122-59-8

Light tan powder or white solid.

PHENOXYACETIC ACID(122-59-8) reacts exothermically with all bases, both organic (for example, the amines) and inorganic.

Slightly soluble in water.

ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: This compound is a mild skin irritant.

Flash point data for this chemical are not available; however PHENOXYACETIC ACID is probably combustible.

off-white powder

Phenoxyacetic acid has a sour, sweet odor and a honey-like taste.

Reported found in cocoa beans

Fungicide; keratin exfoliative (to relieve and to soften calluses, corns, and other hard skin surfaces; applied as plasters, pads or in liquids).

ChEBI: Phenoxyacetic acid(122-59-8) is a monocarboxylic acid that is the O-phenyl derivative of glycolic acid. A metabolite of 2-phenoxyethanol, it is used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, fungicides and dyes. It has a role as a human xenobiotic metabolite, an Aspergillus metabolite, a plant growth retardant and an allergen. It is a monocarboxylic acid and an aromatic ether. It is functionally related to a glycolic acid. It is a conjugate acid of a phenoxyacetate.

By reacting phenol and monochloroacetic acid.

Synthetic Communications, 16, p. 479, 1986 DOI: 10.1080/00397918608057726

A Schlenk tube was charged with aryl iodides (1) (1.0 mmol), glycolic acid (228 mg, 3.0 mmol), CuI (19.0 mg, 0.1 mmol), Cs2CO3 (1.95 g, 6.0 mmol), and DMSO/H2O (2 mL/1 mL). The mixture was stirred for 24 h at 120 ℃ under Ar. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature, poured into 5 mL of water, and then acidified to pH = 1 with 2 N HCl solution. The aqueous phase was extracted twice with EtOAc, and the combined organic layer was washed with H2O and brine, dried over anhydrous MgSO4, and concentrated under vacuum. Purification of the crude product by column chromatography (dichloromethane/methanol) afforded the desired product Phenoxyacetic acid, white solid, yield 133 mg, 88%. 

Store at -20°C

Crystallise the acid from water or aqueous EtOH. [Beilstein 6 IV 634.]