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cumene

Structure via PubChem · Public domain (PubChem)

EntityQ410107· pop 36· linked from 152 articles

Also known as Cumol, Isopropyl benzene, 2-Phenyl propane, (1-Methylethyl)benzene, Polyphenyl residue, Isopropylbenzene [UN1918] [Flammable liquid], 1-Methylethyl-Benzene, Isopropylbenzol

Cumene (isopropylbenzene) is an organic compound that contains a benzene ring with an isopropyl substituent. It is a constituent of crude oil and refined fuels. It is a flammable colorless liquid that has a boiling point of 152 °C. Nearly all the cumene that is produced as a pure compound on an industrial scale is converted to cumene hydroperoxide, which is an intermediate in the synthesis of other industrially important chemicals, primarily phenol and acetone (known as the cumene process).

Chemical data

Formula
C9H12
Molecular weight
120.19 g/mol
IUPAC name
cumene
SMILES
CC(C)C1=CC=CC=C1
InChIKey
RWGFKTVRMDUZSP-UHFFFAOYSA-N
XLogP
3.7
Polar surface area
0 Ų
H-bond donors
0
H-bond acceptors
0
Formal charge
0

via PubChem

~3 min read

Encyclopedic overview

6 sections
Contents
  • Production
  • Autoxidation
  • Applications
  • See also
  • References
  • External links

Cumene (isopropylbenzene) is an organic compound that contains a benzene ring with an isopropyl substituent. It is a constituent of crude oil and refined fuels. It is a flammable colorless liquid that has a boiling point of 152 °C. Nearly all the cumene that is produced as a pure compound on an industrial scale is converted to cumene hydroperoxide, which is an intermediate in the synthesis of other industrially important chemicals, primarily phenol and acetone (known as the cumene process).

==Production== Commercial production of cumene is by Friedel–Crafts alkylation of benzene with propylene. The original route for manufacturing of cumene was by alkylation of benzene in the liquid phase using sulfuric acid as a catalyst, but because of the complicated neutralization and recycling steps required, together with corrosion problems, this process has been largely replaced. As an alternative, solid phosphoric acid (SPA) supported on alumina has been used as the catalyst.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “cumene” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

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