General Description
Colorless crystals.
Reactivity Profile
1,4-DIMETHOXYBENZENE(150-78-7) is an ether. Ethers may react violently with strong oxidizing agents. In other reactions, which typically involve the breaking of the carbon-oxygen bond, ethers are relatively inert.
Air & Water Reactions
Slightly water soluble .
Chemical Properties
Hydroquinone Dimethyl Ether occurs in hyacinth oil and has also been identified
in tea. It is a white, crystalline solid (mp 57–58°C) with an intensely sweet,
somewhat herbal, nut-like odor.
Hydroquinone dimethyl ether is prepared by etherification of hydroquinone and
is used in soap perfumes.
Chemical Properties
p-Dimethoxybenzene has a bitter taste.
Chemical Properties
white crystals or powder
Occurrence
Reported found in hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis L.) essential oil, Rhodophyllus icterius, papaya, peppermint
oil, green tea, cherimoya and cooked shrimp
Definition
ChEBI: 1,4-Dimethoxybenzene is a dimethoxybenzene.
Preparation
By methylation of hydroquinone using dimethyl sulfate and alkali.
Flammability and Explosibility
Notclassified
Synthesis
An aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (40%,175 ml) is added dropwiseduring 3 hr at 18-22° to a well stirred mixture of hydroquinone (50 g,0.45mole)，sodium hydrosulphite (2.0 g,0.115 mole), dimethyl sulphate (110ml,146.63 g,1.16 mole) and alcohol (150 ml). Ice (1 kg) is added and the reaction mixture left overnight at room temperature. It is extracted withether (2 × 200 ml). The ether extract is washed with water,dried(anhydrous sodium sulphate) and distilled.1,4-Dimethoxy benzene isobtained as an oil. Yield 52.75 g (84.1%).It solidifies on cooling and iscrystallised from ether-petroleum ether as shining needles. M.p. 55-56°.
Purification Methods
Steam distil 1,4-dimethoxybenzene, then crystallise it from hexane or *benzene, and from MeOH or EtOH, but these are wasteful due to high solubilities. Dry it under vacuum. It also sublimes under vacuum. [Beilstein 6 IV 5718.]
