7304. o-Phenylphenol

Nomenclature

CAS number: 90-43-7
(1,1′-Biphenyl)-2-ol; 2-biphenylol; orthoxenol; o-hydroxydiphenyl; 2-hydroxydiphenyl; Dowicide 1 (Dow).
C12H10O; mol wt 170.21.
C 84.68%, H 5.92%, O 9.40%.

Description and references

Prepn from phenyl ether: Lüttringhaus, S"a"af, Ann. 542, 241 (1939); from dibenzofuran: Gilman, Esmay, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 75, 2947 (1953); Müller, US 2862035 (1958 to Bayer). Purification: Widiger, US 3087969 (1963 to Dow). Toxicity data: Hodge et al., J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 104, 202 (1952). Review of carcinogenic risk: IARC Monographs 30, 329-344 (1983).

Chemical structure

Properties

White, flaky crystals. Mild, characteristic odor. mp 55.5-57.5°; bp 280-284°; bp15 152-154°. Practically insol in water. Sol in fixed alkali hydroxide solns and most organic solvents. LD50 orally in rats: 2.48 g/kg (Hodge).

Derivative

Sodium salt.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 132-27-4
Natriphene; sodium o-phenylphenate; sodium 2-phenylphenoxide; Dowicide A (Dow).
C12H9NaO; mol wt 192.19.
C 74.99%, H 4.72%, Na 11.96%, O 8.32%.

Properties

White flakes. Soly at 25° (g/100 g solvent): water 120; acetone 330; methanol 468; propylene glycol >200. Practically insol in petroleum fractions, pine oil. pH of satd water soln at 25° = 12.0-13.5.

Caution

Toxic symptoms similar to phenol, q.v. See Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products, R. E. Gosselin et al., Eds. (Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 5th ed., 1984) Section II, p 316.

Use

Antimicrobial additive in the mfr of adhesives, leather, metalworking fluids, and textiles; preservative in automotive polishes, ceramic glazes, laundry starch, inks, floor wax emulsions; agricultural fungicide.