Difference between anisole and methyl benzoate

1. structural formula and composition

Structural formula of 1.1 anisole The chemical formula of anisole is C6H5CH2O and consists of a benzyl group (C6H5CH2-) and a hydroxyl group (-O) connected by an ester bond. Its structure can be seen as an esterification product of benzoic acid, in which the carboxylic acid group is replaced by a methoxy group.

Structural formula of 1.2 methyl benzoate The chemical formula of methyl benzoate is C6H5CH2COOCH3 and is formed by the esterification of benzoic acid (C6H5CH2COOH) with methanol (CH3OH) under acidic conditions. It has a structure in which the carboxylic acid group is substituted by a methoxy group.

2. physical properties

2.1 boiling point Anisole has a relatively low boiling point of 160°C, while methyl benzoate has a boiling point of 170°C. Although the two are similar, the boiling point of methyl benzoate is slightly higher.

2.2 density Anisole has a density of 0.81g/cm³, while methyl benzoate has a density of 01.05g/cm³. The density of methyl benzoate is slightly higher.

2.3 solubility Both of them have good solubility in water, but the solubility of methyl benzoate in organic solvents is slightly higher than that of anisole.

3. chemical properties

3.1 reactivity Due to the presence of ester groups, the chemical reactivity of methyl benzoate is slightly lower than that of anisole. The ester group can be hydrolyzed under acidic or basic conditions, while anisole is more stable under normal conditions.

3.2 hydrolysis reaction Methyl benzoate can be hydrolyzed to produce benzoic acid and methanol under acidic conditions, while anisole does not react under hydrolysis conditions, usually requiring high temperatures and catalysts.

4. uses and application areas

4.1 industrial applications Anisole is commonly used in solvents and desiccants, has good dehydration, and is widely used in organic synthesis and separation fields. Methyl benzoate is mainly used as a solvent and organic reagent, and is often used as an ester intermediate in organic chemical reactions.

4.2 pharmaceutical field In the pharmaceutical process, anisole is often used to extract and purify pharmaceutical components, while methyl benzoate is used as a carrier or intermediate for certain drugs.

5. summary

From the above analysis, it can be clearly seen that although there are similarities in some properties between anisole and methyl benzoate, they have significant differences in structure, physical properties and chemical reactivity. The selection of suitable compounds should be determined according to the specific experimental conditions, reaction requirements and the characteristics of the application field.

For professionals in the chemical and pharmaceutical fields, the correct differentiation and application of these two compounds can improve the efficiency of experiments and the accuracy of results. I hope the analysis of this article is helpful to you.