2617. Cumene

Nomenclature

CAS number: 98-82-8
(1-Methylethyl)benzene; cumol; isopropylbenzene.
C9H12; mol wt 120.19.
C 89.94%, H 10.06%.

Description and references

Manuf: Faith, Keyes & Clark's Industrial Chemicals, F. A. Lowenheim, M. K. Moran, Eds. (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 4th ed., 1975) pp 294-297. Toxicity study: Smyth et al., Arch. Ind. Hyg. Occup. Med. 4, 119 (1951). Review: D. J. Ward in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology vol. 7 (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 3rd ed., 1979) pp 286-290.

Chemical structure

Properties

Colorless liquid. d420 0.862. bp 152-153°. Flash pt, closed cup: 102°F (39°C). nD20 1.4914: Hirschler, Faulconer, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 68, 210 (1946). Insol in water. Sol in alcohol and many other organic solvents. LD50 orally in rats: 2.91 g/kg (Smyth).

Caution

Potential symptoms of overexposure are irritation of eyes, skin and mucous membranes; dermatitis; headache, narcosis, coma. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140, 1997) p 80.

Use

In manuf of phenol, acetone, acetophenone, α-methylstyrene.