3-Benzyl-2-methylbenzyl alcohol

The catalyst is inactive for the hydrogenation of the (isolated) benzene nucleus and so may bo used for the hydrogenation of aromatic compounds containing aldehyde, keto, carbalkoxy or amide groups to the corresponding alcohols, amines, etc., e.g., ethyl benzoate to benzyl alcohol methyl p-toluate to p-methylbenzyl alcohol ethyl cinnamate to 3 phenyl 1-propanol. 

Benzyl alcohols, including commercially available benzyl alcohol and 4-methylbenzyl alcohol, were purified through rectification, followed by recrystallization when the alcohols were solids. 

In most cases, the reaction was carried out with formic acid. However, p-toluenesulfonic acid was used for the condensation of 4-methylbenzyl alcohol with benzene, benzyl alcohol with isodurene, and 2-methylbenzyl alcohol with p-xylene because formic acid was too weak an acid in these cases. 

The reactor effluent is distilled and unreacted EB is recycled. The EB hydroperoxide is then reacted with propylene at 250°F and pressure in the range of 250-700 psi in the presence of a metal catalyst to produce propylene oxide and methylbenzyl alcohol B in Figure 8-7). The reactor mixture is separated by multiple fractionators. Unreacted propylene and EB are recycled. PO is recovered overhead. The methyl benzyl alcohol is easily dehydrated in the vapor stage at 450—500° F and 500 psi pressure over a titanium dioxide or silica gel catalyst to form styrene. Acephenone is one of the by-products. 

Kinetic and mechanistic investigations on the o-xylene oxidation over V205—Ti02 catalysts were carried out by Vanhove and Blanchard [335, 336] using a flow reactor at 450°C. Possible intermediates like o-methyl-benzyl alcohol, o-xylene-a,a -diol, toluic acid and phthalaldehyde were studied by comparing their oxidation product distribution with that of toluene. Moreover, a competitive oxidation of o-methylbenzyl alcohol and l4C-labelled o-xylene was carried out. The compounds investigated are all very rapidly oxidized, compared with o-xylene, and essentially yield the same products. It is concluded, therefore, that these compounds, or their adsorbed forms may very well be intermediates in the oxidation of o-xylene to phthalic anhydride. The ratio in which the partial oxidation products are formed appears to depend on the nature of the oxidized compounds, i.e. o-methylbenzyl alcohol yields relatively more phthalide, whereas o-xylene-diol produces detectable amounts of phthalan. This... 

During the workup of the o-xylene oxidation run, a strong lachrymator made its presence felt. This was probably a-bromo-o-xylene, although it was not detected in the low voltage mass spectrum. We suspected that a strong peak at mass 104, undoubtedly caused chiefly by a fragment ion derived from o-methylbenzyl alcohol by loss of H20 (I), might also contain a contribution from benzocyclobutene from the interaction of a-bromo-o-xylene with the indium tube used to introduce samples into the spectrometer. To test this possibility, benzyl bromide and a-bromo-o-xylene were run separately under the same conditions. 

Although an appreciable amount of p-tolualdehyde was formed in oxidations with and without bromide, relatively little p-methylbenzyl alcohol and acetate resulted in the absence of bromide (1/10 to 1/25 as much as with bromide ion). The contrasting results suggest that the benzyl alcohol is a minor product in the autoxidation chain, as previously postulated by Boland, Bateman, and others (4, 7, 8, 15, 27), and is formed in the presence of bromide by solvolysis ... 

When the photoreaction was carried out under aerobic conditions, different products, such as p-tolualdehyde, / -toluic acid, and 4-methylbenzyl alcohol, were obtained in total yields of about 25%. It is probable in this case that benzyl... 

TCNB formed cocrystals with benzyl alcohol (BzOH) and 3-methylbenzyl alcohol (3-MeBzOH) with the 1 1 stoichiometry. Their crystal structures consist of parallel alternate stacking of the donor and acceptor molecules [61]. Although these cocrystals did not give detectable amounts of photocoupling products in the solid state, several condensation products were obtained by solution photolysis in liquid donor as solvent (Scheme 35) [59]. 

Methylbenzyl alcohol [98-85-1] (1-phenyl-ethanol, 1-phenylethyl alcohol, phenyl-methylcarbinol) is an almost colorless, neutral liquid that has limited miscibility with water and a weak, bitter, almond-like odor. It has a high solvency for alcohol-soluble cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, and cellulose acetobutyrate for many natural and synthetic resins and for fats and oils. In contrast to benzyl alcohol, it is miscible with white spirit. 

Methylbenzyl alcohol can be used like benzyl alcohol, and can be employed advantageously in stoving enamels. In cellulose nitrate and acetyl cellulose lacquers methylbenzyl alcohol helps to improve flow and film formation and prevents blushing at relatively high atmospheric humidity levels. It has also proved to be a useful additive in paint-removal agents on account of its dissolution properties and long evaporation time. The solvency of methylbenzyl alcohol for colorants is similar to that of benzyl alcohol. 

CAS 589-18-4 EINECS/ELINCS 209-639-1 Synonyms Benzenemethanol, 4-methyl- Benzyl alcohol, p-methyl- 4-(Hydroxymethyl) toluene 4-Methyl benzenemethanol 4-Methylbenzyl alcohol... 

Methyl benzyl alcohol. SeeCresyl alcohol o-Methylbenzyl alcohol CAS 98-85-1 EINECS/ELINCS 202-707-1 UN 2937 (DOT) FEMA 2685 Synonyms Benzenemethanol, a-methyl- Ethanol, 1-phenyl- Methyl phenylcarbinol Methylphenylmethanol a-Phenethyl alcohol s-Phenethyl alcohol 1-Phenylethanol a-Phenylethyl alcohol Phenylmethylcarbinol Styrallyl alcohol Styralyl alcohol Empirical CsHioO Formula C6H5CH(CH3)OH Properties Colorless liq. mild floral odor sol. in alcohol, glycerol, min. oil, oxygenated and hydrocarbon soivs. si. sol. in water m.w. 122.17 dens. 1.009-1.014 vapor pressure 0.1 mm (20 C) ... 

Methyl benzyl acetate a-Methylbenzyl acetate a-Methylbenzyl alcohol a-Methylbenzyl propionate 2-Methyl-2-butanethiol... 

Benzyl alcohol 4-Methylbenzyl alcohol 4-Fluorobenzyl alcohol 4-Chlorobenzyl alcohol 4-Bromobenzyl alcohol 4-Nitrobenzyl alcohol 4-Methoxybenzyl alcohol 3,5-Dimethoxybenzyl alcohol 3-Methoxybaizyl alcohol 3-Hydroxybenzyl alcohol 33 Pihydroxybenzyl alcohol... 

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