7268. Phenylacetic Acid

Nomenclature

CAS number: 103-82-2
Benzeneacetic acid; phenylethanoic acid; α-toluic acid.
C8H8O2; mol wt 136.15.
C 70.57%, H 5.92%, O 23.50%.

Description and references

Made by refluxing benzyl cyanide with dil H2SO4 or HCl: Adams, Thal, Org. Synth. 2, 63 (1922). Absorption spectrum: Baly, Tryhorn, J. Chem. Soc. 107, 1065 (1915).

Chemical structure

Properties

Leaflets on distillation in vacuo; plates, tablets from petr ether; mp 76.5°. bp760 265.5°; bp100 198.2°; bp40 173.6°; bp5 127°; bp1.0 97°. d477 1.091. pK (25°): 4.25. Slightly sol in cold, freely in hot water. The aq soln satd at 25° is 0.131N. Sol in alcohol, ether. Soly at 25° in chloroform (moles/l): 4.422; in carbon tetrachloride: 1.842; in acetylene tetrachloride: 4.513; in trichlorethylene: 3.299; in tetrachlorethylene: 1.558; in pentachloroethane: 3.252.

Derivative

Methyl ester.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 101-41-7
C9H10O2; mol wt 150.17.
C 71.98%, H 6.71%, O 21.31%.

Properties

Liquid, bp 215°.

Derivative

Ethyl ester see Ethyl phenylacetate.

Use

Starting material in manuf synthetic perfumes, condensation products with aldehydes.