6107. Methylparaben

Nomenclature

CAS number: 99-76-3
4-Hydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester; methyl p-hydroxybenzoate; Nipagin M; Tegosept M; Methyl Chemosept; Methyl Parasept (Tenneco).
C8H8O3; mol wt 152.15.
C 63.15%, H 5.30%, O 31.55%.

Description and references

Prepn: Ladenburg, Fitz, Ann. 141, 247 (1867); Zbarskii, C.A. 33, 93123 (1939). Identification in the vaginal secretions of female dogs in estrus: M. Goodwin et al., Science 203, 559 (1979).

Chemical structure

Properties

White needles, mp 131°. bp 270-280° (dec). One gram dissolves in 400 ml water, 40 ml warm oil, about 70 ml warm glycerol; freely sol in alcohol, acetone, ether. The soly in water is also given as 0.25% w/w at 20°, and as 0.30% w/w at 25°.

Use

As preservative in foods, beverages and cosmetics.