5907. Mesitylene

Nomenclature

CAS number: 108-67-8
1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene; sym-trimethylbenzene.
C9H12; mol wt 120.19.
C 89.94%, H 10.06%.

Description and references

Occurs in coal tar and in petroleum crudes; prepd by dehydrating acetone with H2SO4: Adams, Hufferd, Org. Synth. 2, 41 (1922).

Chemical structure

Properties

Liquid; peculiar odor. d420 0.8637. mp 44.8°. nD18 1.49541. bp760 164.7°; bp100 98.9°; bp20 61°; bp10 47.4°; bp1.0 9.6°. Practically insol in water (100 g H2O dissolve 0.002 g). Miscible with alcohol, ether, benzene.

Caution

Potential symptoms of overexposure are irritation of eyes, skin, nose, throat, respiratory system; bronchitis; hypochromic anemia, headache, drowsiness, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, incoordination; vomiting, confusion; aspiration of liquid may cause chemical pneumonia. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140, 1997) p 320.