1,2,3,4-Tetramethylbenzene

1, 2, 3, 4-Tetramethylbenzene is used as a starting material in the preparation of 1, 2, 3, 4-tetramethyl benzene-5-chlorosulfonyl chloride by reacting with chlorosulfonic acid¹. In industry, it is the precursor to pyromellitic dianhydride, which is used for manufacturing curing agents, adhesives, coating materials. It is used in the manufacture of some raw materials for engineering plastics (polyimides) and cross-linking agent for alkyd resins. It is also a suitable starting material for the synthesis of hexamethylbenzene^2-4.

1. https://www.alfa.com/en/catalog/L19756/
2. Hoefs, Marcel J. L., et al. "Alternative biological sources for 1,2,3,4-tetramethylbenzene in flash pyrolysates of kerogen." Organic Geochemistry 23.10(1995): 975-979.
3. Sun, Yongge, et al. "Source facies of the Paleozoic petroleum systems in the Tabei uplift, Tarim Basin, NW China: implications from aryl isoprenoids in crude oils." Organic Geochemistry 34.4(2003): 629-634.
4. Jia, Wanglu, et al. "Source of 1,2,3,4-tetramethylbenzene in asphaltenes from the Tarim Basin." Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 30.5(2007):591-598.

Colorless liquid. Soluble in alcohol; insoluble in water.

1,2,3,4-Tetramethylbenzene is a useful starting material and building block for organic synthesis. An analyte identified in the volatile oils from Taxodium ascendens leaves and cones. Antibacterial activity.

ChEBI: A tetramethylbenzene that consists of benzene substituted by methyl groups at positions 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Dry it over sodium and distil under reduced pressure. The picrate has m 92-95o (EtOH). [Beilstein 5 H 430, 5 I 206. 5 II 329, 5 III 974, 5 IV 1072.]