13-04411. Gentisyl Alcohol [Archived]

Nomenclature

CAS number: 495-08-9
2-(Hydroxymethyl)-1,4-benzenediol; 2,5-dihydroxybenzyl alcohol.
C7H8O3; mol wt 140.14.
C 59.99%, H 5.75%, O 34.25%.

Description and references

A metabolic product of Penicillium patulum: Birkinshaw et al., Biochem. J. 37, 726 (1943); Brack, Helv. Chim. Acta 30, 1 (1947); Tanenbaum, Bassett, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 28, 21 (1958). Prepn from gentisaldehyde: Birkinshaw, loc. cit.

Chemical structure

Properties

Clusters of needles from chloroform. mp 100°. Sublimes in high vacuum at 70-80° (bath temp). Freely sol in water, alcohol, ether; slightly sol in benzene, chloroform. Insol in petr ether. Upon heating with 2N H2SO4, a white amorphous precipitate is obtained. With aq NaOH: yellow color deepening to reddish brown.

Status

This monograph has been retired and is no longer subject to revision or update.