General Description
Needles or off-white crystalline powder.
Reactivity Profile
P-METHYL BENZYL ALCOHOL(589-18-4) can react with acids, acid chlorides, acid anhydrides and oxidizing agents.
Air & Water Reactions
Slightly soluble in water.
Health Hazard
ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: When heated to decomposition this compound emits acrid smoke and toxic fumes of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.
Fire Hazard
Flash point data for this chemical are not available. P-METHYL BENZYL ALCOHOL is probably combustible.
Chemical Properties
white crystalline mass, needles or crystals
Definition
ChEBI: A methylbenzyl alcohol in which the methyl substituent is para to the hydroxymethyl group.
Production Methods
p-Tolyl alcohol is commercially prepared by reducing p-tolyl
aldehyde. It is used mainly in fragrances, and the
major route of exposure is likely to be dermal contact.
Flammability and Explosibility
Notclassified
Purification Methods
Crystallise the alcohol from pet ether (b 80-100o, 1g/mL), Et2O, pentane or H2O (m 61-62.1o). It can also be distilled in a vacuum. [Beilstein 6 H 498, 6 I 248, 6 II 469, 6 III 1779.]