6954. Oxybenzone

Nomenclature

CAS number: 131-57-7
(2-Hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)phenylmethanone; 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone; 4-methoxy-2-hydroxybenzophenone; benzophenone-3; MOB; Cyasorb UV 9 (Cytec); Eusolex 4360 (Merck KGaA); Neo Heliopan BB (Symrise); Uvinul M-40 (BASF).
C14H12O3; mol wt 228.24.
C 73.67%, H 5.30%, O 21.03%.

Description and references

UV-A/B absorber in cosmetics and sunscreens. Prepn: K"onig, v. Kostanecki, Ber. 39, 4027 (1906); Hardy, Forster, US 2773903 (1956 to Am. Cyanamid); Stanley et al., US 2861104; US 2861105; US 3073866 (1958, 1958, 1963 all to General Aniline & Film). Toxicity study: H. -J. Lewerenz et al., Food Cosmet. Toxicol. 10, 41 (1972).

Chemical structure

Properties

Crystals from isopropanol, mp 66°. Readily sol in most organic solvents. LD50 orally in rats: >12.8 g/kg (Lewerenz).

Use

Ultraviolet light absorber and stabilizer, esp in plastics and paints.

Therapeutic Category

Ultraviolet screen.

Keywords

Ultraviolet Screen