8155. Resorcinol

Nomenclature

CAS number: 108-46-3
1,3-Benzenediol; m-dihydroxybenzene; resorcin.
C6H6O2; mol wt 110.11.
C 65.45%, H 5.49%, O 29.06%.

Description and references

Prepd by fusing m-benzenedisulfonic acid with excess NaOH. Review: J. Varagnat in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology vol. 13 (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 3rd ed., 1981) pp 39-69. Review of toxicology and risk assessment: B. S. Lynch et al., Regul. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 36, 198-210 (2002).

Chemical structure

Properties

White, needle-like crystals; sweetish taste. Becomes pink on exposure to light and air, or by contact with iron. d 1.272. mp 109-111°. bp 280°, but volatilizes at lower temp and is slightly volatile with steam. pH: 5.2. One gram dissolves in 0.9 ml water, 0.2 ml water at 80°, 0.9 ml alcohol; freely sol in ether, glycerol; slightly sol in chloroform. Poisonous. Protect from light.

Derivative

Monoacetate.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 102-29-4
Acetylresorcinol; Euresol (Knoll).
C8H8O3; mol wt 152.15.
C 63.15%, H 5.30%, O 31.55%.

Properties

Golden-yellow, thick, syrupy, oily liquid. bp ≈283° with decompn. Insol in water. Miscible with alc, benzene, chloroform, acetone. Sol in solns of alkali hydroxides.

Caution

Potential symptoms of overexposure are irritation of eyes, skin, nose, throat, upper respiratory system; dermatitis; methemoglobinemia, cyanosis, convulsions; restlessness, bluish skin, increased heart rate, dyspnea; dizziness, drowsiness, hypothermia, hemoglobinuria; spleen, kidney, liver changes. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140, 1997) p 272; Patty's Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology vol. 2B, G. D. Clayton, F. E. Clayton, Eds. (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 4th ed., 1994) pp 1586-1590.

Use

In tanning, photography; manuf of resins, resin adhesives, hexylresorcinol, p-aminosalicylic acid, explosives, dyes, tires, rubber products; in cosmetics; dyeing and printing textiles; as a reagent for zinc.

Therapeutic Category

Keratolytic; antiseborrheic.

Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)

Topical antipruritic and antiseptic. Has been used as an intestinal antiseptic.

Keywords

Antiacne; Antiseborrheic; Keratolytic