Chemical Properties
p-Dimethoxybenzene has a bitter taste.
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
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
Uses
Weathering agent in paints and plastics, fixative
in perfumes, dyes, resin intermediate, cosmetics,
especially suntan preparations, flavoring.
Uses
1,4-Dimethoxybenzene is used as Pharmaceutical Intermediate. It is used in some paints and as a diazo dye. It is also used in perfumes and flavors in order to its floral odor. In addition, it is used on greasy skin, and with sulfur to treat acne, or as a dandruff treatment.
Preparation
By methylation of hydroquinone using dimethyl sulfate and alkali.
Definition
ChEBI: 1,4-Dimethoxybenzene is a dimethoxybenzene.
Synthesis Reference(s)
Journal of the American Chemical Society, 83, p. 1251, 1961
DOI: 10.1021/ja01466a056
General Description
Colorless crystals.
Air & Water Reactions
Slightly water soluble .
Reactivity Profile
1,4-Dimethoxybenzene 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.
Flammability and Explosibility
Not classified
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.]
