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O-Cresol

o-Cresol
Kekulé, skeletal formula of o-cresol with some implicit hydrogens shown
Spacefill model of o-cresol
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
2-Methylphenol
Other names
o-Cresol
2-Hydroxytoluene
2-Cresol
o-Cresylic acid
1-Hydroxy-2-methylbenzene,
Identifiers
3D model (Jmol)
3DMet B00313
506917
ChEBI
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.002.204
EC Number 202-423-8
101619
KEGG
MeSH 2-Cresol
PubChem CID
RTECS number GO6300000
UNII
UN number 2076, 3455
Properties
C7H8O
Molar mass 108.14 g·mol−1
Appearance Colorless to white crystals
Odor sweet, phenolic odor
Density 1.0465 g cm−3
Melting point 31 °C; 88 °F; 304 K
Boiling point 191 °C; 376 °F; 464 K
31 g dm−3 (at 40 °C)
Solubility soluble in chloroform, ether, CCl4
Solubility in ethanol Miscible (at 30 °C)
Solubility in diethyl ether Miscible (at 30 °C)
log P 1.962
Vapor pressure 40 Pa (at 20 °C)
Acidity (pKa) 10.316
Basicity (pKb) 3.681
-72.9·10−6 cm3/mol
1.5353
Viscosity 35.06 cP (at 45 °C)
Thermochemistry
154.56 J K−1 mol−1
165.44 J K−1 mol−1
-204.3 kJ mol−1
-3.6936 MJ mol−1
Hazards
Safety data sheet External MSDS
Toxic T Corrosive C
R-phrases (outdated) R24/25, R34
S-phrases (outdated) (S1/2), S36/37/39, S45
NFPA 704
Flammability code 2: Must be moderately heated or exposed to relatively high ambient temperature before ignition can occur. Flash point between 38 and 93 °C (100 and 200 °F). E.g., diesel fuel Health code 3: Short exposure could cause serious temporary or residual injury. E.g., chlorine gas Reactivity code 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g., liquid nitrogen Special hazards (white): no codeNFPA 704 four-colored diamond
Flash point 81 °C (178 °F; 354 K)
598.9 °C (1,110.0 °F; 872.0 K)
Explosive limits 1.4%-? (148°C)
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
LD50 (median dose)
1350 mg/kg (rat, oral)
121 mg/kg (rat, oral)
344 mg/kg (mouse, oral)
US health exposure limits (NIOSH):
PEL (Permissible)
TWA 5 ppm (22 mg/m3) [skin]
REL (Recommended)
TWA 2.3 ppm (10 mg/m3)
IDLH (Immediate danger)
250 ppm
Related compounds
Related phenols
m-cresol, p-cresol, phenol
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N  (what is YesYN ?)
Infobox references

ortho-Cresol, also 2-methylphenol, is an organic compound with the formula CH3C6H4(OH). It is a colourless solid that is widely used intermediate in the production of other chemicals. It is a derivative of phenol and is an isomer of p-cresol and m-cresol.

o-Cresol is one of the chemical compounds found in castoreum. This compound is gathered from the beaver's castor glands and found in the white cedar consumed by the beaver.

Together with many other compounds, o-cresol is traditionally extracted from coal tar, the volatile materials obtained in the production of coke from coal. A similar source material is petroleum residues. These residue contains a few percent by weight of phenol and isomeric cresols. In addition to the materials derived from these natural sources, about two thirds of the Western world's supply is produced by methylation of phenol using methanol. The alkylation is catalysed by metal oxides:

Over-methylation gives xylenol. Many other production methods have been examined, including oxidative decarboxylation of salicylic acid, oxygenation of toluene, and hydrolysis of 2-chlorotoluene.

o-Cresol is mainly used as a precursor to other compounds. Chlorination and etherification gives members of a commercially important herbicides, such as 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA). Nitration gives dinitrocresol, a popular herbicide. Kolbe–Schmitt carboxylation gives o-cresotinic acid, a pharmaceutical intermediate. Carvacrol, essence of oregano, is derived by alkylation of o-cresol with propylene. The muscle relaxant Mephenesin is an ether derived from o-cresol.

Most exposures to cresols are at very low levels that are not harmful although, like phenols, cresols are skin irritants. When cresols are breathed, ingested, or applied to the skin at very high levels, they can be harmful. Breathing high levels of cresols for a short time results in irritation of the nose and throat. Aside from these effects, very little is known about the effects of breathing cresols at lower levels over longer times. The acute LD50 for oral ingestion by mice is 344 mg/kg.


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