663. p-Anisaldehyde

Nomenclature

CAS number: 123-11-5
4-Methoxybenzaldehyde; anisic aldehyde.
C8H8O2; mol wt 136.15.
C 70.57%, H 5.92%, O 23.50%.

Description and references

Metabolic product of the odoriferous fungus Lentinus lepidus Fr.: Birkinshaw et al., Biochem. J. 38, 131 (1944); of wood-rotting fungus Polyporus benzoinus (Wahl.) Fr.: Birkinshaw et al., ibid. 50, 509 (1952); of Daldalea juniperina Murr.: Birkinshaw, Chaplen, ibid. 60, 255 (1955). Prepn: Niedzielski, Nord, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 63, 1462 (1941); Sisti et al., J. Org. Chem. 27, 279 (1962). Toxicity study: P. M. Jenner et al., Food Cosmet. Toxicol. 2, 327 (1964).

Chemical structure

Properties

Oily liquid, bp 248°, bp1.5 89-90°. mp 0°. d415 1.119. nD13 1.5764. Volatile in steam. Very slightly sol in water; misc with alc, ether. LD50 orally in rats: 1510 mg/kg (Jenner).

Use

Perfumery and toilet soaps; odor resembles that of coumarin, but the aldehyde must be mixed with other odorous substances to yield an agreeable odor. Also used in organic syntheses.