Chemical Properties
white to light yellow crystalline powder or
Uses
Hexamethylbenzene is used as pharmaceutical intermediates, in organic synthesis of compounds, as a solvent for He-NMR spectroscopy. Used as a ligand in organometallic chemistry. Reaction with dimethyldioxirane, gives the major product, an unusual oxepane triepoxide.
Definition
ChEBI: A methylbenzene that is benzene in which all six hydrogens have been replaced by methyl groups.
General Description
Hexamethylbenzene (HMB) is a methyl benzene derivative. Its overtone spectra in carbon tetrachloride solution shows doublet structure due to two types of configurationally inequivalent hydrogens. The heat of solution of crystalline HMB has been obtained at 25°C from which the heat of fusion has been deduced by extrapolation process. The internal motion of the methyl groups has been explained by empirical force field calculations. Polarized Raman spectra of HMB at room temperature have been analyzed.
Purification Methods
Sublime hexamethylbenzene, then crystallise it from abolute EtOH, *benzene, EtOH/*benzene or EtOH/cyclohexane. It has also been purified by zone melting. Dry it in a vacuum over P2O5. [Beilstein 5 H 450, 5 IV 1137.]
