M-Cresol
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| Names | |
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Preferred IUPAC name
3-Methylphenol |
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| Other names
3-Cresol
m-Cresol 3-Hydroxytoluene m-Cresylic acid 1-Hydroxy-3-methylbenzene 3-Methylbenzenol |
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| Identifiers | |
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3D model (JSmol)
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| 506719 | |
| ChEBI | |
| ChEMBL | |
| ChemSpider | |
| DrugBank | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.003.253 |
| EC Number |
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| 101411 | |
| KEGG | |
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PubChem CID
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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| Properties | |
| C7H8O | |
| Molar mass | 108.14 g/mol |
| Appearance | colorless liquid to yellowish liquid |
| Density | 1.034 g/cm3, liquid at 20 °C |
| Melting point | 11 °C (52 °F; 284 K) |
| Boiling point | 202.8 °C (397.0 °F; 475.9 K) |
| 2.35 g/100 ml at 20 °C 5.8 g/100 ml at 100 °C |
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| Solubility in ethanol | miscible |
| Solubility in diethyl ether | miscible |
| Vapor pressure | 0.14 mmHg (20 °C) |
| −72.02×10−6 cm3/mol | |
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Refractive index (nD)
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1.5398 |
| Viscosity | 6.1 cP at 40 °C |
| Hazards | |
| Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH): | |
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Main hazards
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May cause serious burns. Very destructive of mucous membranes. Harmful if inhaled. Toxic in contact with the skin or if swallowed. |
| GHS labelling: | |
  
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| Danger | |
| H227, H301, H311, H314, H351, H370, H372, H373, H401 | |
| P201, P202, P210, P260, P264, P270, P273, P280, P281, P301+P310, P301+P330+P331, P302+P352, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P307+P311, P308+P313, P310, P312, P314, P321, P322, P330, P361, P363, P370+P378, P403+P235, P405, P501 | |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
| Flash point | 86 °C |
| Explosive limits | 1.1%–? (149 °C) |
| Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |
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LD50 (median dose)
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242 mg/kg (oral, rat, 1969) 2020 mg/kg (oral, rat, 1944) 828 mg/kg (oral, mouse) |
| NIOSH (US health exposure limits): | |
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PEL (Permissible)
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TWA 5 ppm (22 mg/m3) [skin] |
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REL (Recommended)
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TWA 2.3 ppm (10 mg/m3) |
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IDLH (Immediate danger)
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250 ppm |
| Safety data sheet (SDS) | External MSDS |
| Related compounds | |
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Related phenols
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o-cresol, p-cresol, phenol |
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Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
 verify (what is   ?)
Infobox references
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meta-Cresol, also 3-methylphenol, is an organic compound with the formula CH3C6H4(OH). It is a colourless, viscous liquid that is used as an intermediate in the production of other chemicals. It is a derivative of phenol and is an isomer of p-cresol and o-cresol.
Production
Together with many other compounds, m-cresol is traditionally extracted from coal tar, the volatile materials obtained in the production of coke from (bituminous) coal. This residue contains a few percent by weight of phenol and isomeric cresols. In the cymene–cresol process, toluene is alkylated with propylene to give isomers of cymene, which can be oxidatively dealkylated analogous to the cumene process. Another method, involves carbonylation of a mixture of methallyl chloride and acetylene in the presence of nickel carbonyl.
Applications
m-Cresol is a precursor to numerous compounds. Important applications include:
- pesticides such as fenitrothion and fenthion
- synthetic vitamin E by methylation to give 2,3,6-trimethylphenol
- antiseptics, such as amylmetacresol
- a solvent for polymers. For example, polyaniline is cast from a solution of m-cresol to form a polyaniline film with a superior conductivity than polyaniline alone. This phenomenon is known as secondary doping.
- preservatives in some insulin preparations
- the starting point in the total synthesis of thymol, an important synthetic chemical for regions lacking natural sources of the flavor compound:
- synthesis of dicresulene and policresulen
- synthesis of toliprolol, tolamolol & cresatin
Natural occurrences
m-Cresol is a component found in temporal glands secretions during musth in male African elephants (Loxodonta africana).
m-Cresol is a constituent of tobacco smoke.
m-Cresol is a component found in secretions from the ant Colobopsis saundersi during Autothysis.