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4-ethylphenol
EntityQ409853· pop 14· linked from 19 articles

4-ethylphenol

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Also known as p-Ethylphenol, 4-Hydroxyphenylethane

Ethylphenol (4-EP) is an organic compound with the formula C2H5C6H4OH. It is one of three isomeric ethylphenols. A white solid, it occurs as an impurity in xylenols and as such is used in the production of some commercial phenolic resins. It is also a precursor to 4-vinylphenol.

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Encyclopedic overview

6 sections
Contents
  • Production
  • Natural occurrences
  • Biochemistry
  • See also
  • References
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Ethylphenol (4-EP) is an organic compound with the formula C2H5C6H4OH. It is one of three isomeric ethylphenols. A white solid, it occurs as an impurity in xylenols and as such is used in the production of some commercial phenolic resins. It is also a precursor to 4-vinylphenol.

==Production== 4-Ethylphenol is produced by careful sulfonation of ethylbenzene to 4-ethylphenylsulfonic acid. The sulfonic acid is subsequently subjected to alkaline fusion, the dissolution of the sulfonic acid in molten alkali metal base. The main steps in the synthesis are shown: (Et = ethyl)

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “4-ethylphenol” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.