thymol
Also known as 3-p-cymenol, 6-isopropyl-m-cresol, 2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol, 1-hydroxy-5-methyl-2-isopropylbenzene, 5-methyl-2-isopropylphenol, 6-isopropyl-3-methylphenol, isopropyl cresol, 6-isopropyl-p-cresol
Thymol (also known as 2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol, IPMP), , is a monoterpenoid, phenol derivative of p-cymene, isomeric with carvacrol. It occurs naturally in oil of thyme and is extracted from Thymus vulgaris (common thyme), ajwain, and various other plants, as a white crystalline substance with a pleasant aromatic odor.
Chemical data
- Formula
- C10H14O
- Molecular weight
- 150.22 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 5-methyl-2-propan-2-ylphenol
- SMILES
- CC1=CC(=C(C=C1)C(C)C)O
- InChIKey
- MGSRCZKZVOBKFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N
- XLogP
- 3.3
- Polar surface area
- 20.2 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 1
- H-bond acceptors
- 1
- Formal charge
- 0
via PubChem
Research
8,153 papersArticle
11 sectionsContents
- Chemical synthesis
- History
- Extraction
- Uses
- List of plants that contain thymol
- Toxicology and environmental impacts
- Environmental breakdown and use as a pesticide
- Compendial status
- See also
- Notes and references
- External links
Thymol (also known as 2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol, IPMP), , is a monoterpenoid, phenol derivative of p-cymene, isomeric with carvacrol. It occurs naturally in oil of thyme and is extracted from Thymus vulgaris (common thyme), ajwain, and various other plants, as a white crystalline substance with a pleasant aromatic odor.
Thymol provides the distinctive flavor of the culinary herb thyme, also produced from T. vulgaris. Thymol is only slightly soluble in water at neutral pH, but due to deprotonation of the phenol, it is highly soluble in alcohols, other organic solvents, and strongly alkaline aqueous solutions.