21895-16-9

Basic information

• Product Name: Benzene, 1-methyl-3-[(4-methylphenyl)methyl]-
• Synonyms: m-Tolyl-p-tolyl-methan;Methane,m-tolyl-p-tolyl;m-tolyl-p-tolyl-methane;3,4'-dimethyldiphenylmethane
• CAS NO: 21895-16-9
• Molecular Formula: C15H16
• Molecular Weight: 196.292
• Mol File: 21895-16-9.mol
• Article Data: 14

Chemical Properties

• Melting Point: 0.95°C (estimate)
• Boiling Point: 288.19°C (estimate)
• Density: 0.9811 (estimate)
• Refractive Index: 1.5466 (estimate)
• CAS DataBase Reference: Benzene, 1-methyl-3-[(4-methylphenyl)methyl]-(CAS DataBase Reference)
• NIST Chemistry Reference: Benzene, 1-methyl-3-[(4-methylphenyl)methyl]-(21895-16-9)
• EPA Substance Registry System: Benzene, 1-methyl-3-[(4-methylphenyl)methyl]-(21895-16-9)

Safety Data

• Hazardous Substances Data: 21895-16-9(Hazardous Substances Data)

Upstream product

• 106-49-0 p-toluidine 
• 108-38-3 m-xylene 
• 104-82-5 4-Methylbenzyl chloride 
• 108-88-3 toluene 
• 106-42-3 para-xylene 
• 108-44-1 1-amino-3-methylbenzene 
• 50-00-0 formaldehyd 
• 7446-70-0 aluminium trichloride 
• 17933-03-8 m-tolylboronic acid 
• 620-19-9 1-chloromethyl-3-methyl-benzene 
• 824-79-3 sodium 4-methylbenzenesulfinate 
• 183156-71-0 N-(4-methylbenzyl)-N-nitrosoacetamide 
• 5663-40-1 2-(4-methylphenyl)-1,3-dioxane 
• 71-43-2 benzene 

Relevant articles and documents

N-heterocyclic carbene–palladium complexes for Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction with benzyl chloride and aromatic boronic acid leading to diarylmethanes

A family of N-heterocyclic carbene–palladium(II)–N,N-dimethylbenzylamine complexes ((NHC)LPdCl2; L?=?N,N-dimethylbenzylamine) were synthesized as well as characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic data. These complexes exhibited higher catalytic activities for the Suzuki reaction of benzyl chlorides to afford diarylmethanes under milder conditions than other efficient (NHC)LPdCl2 complexes. Using the optimum conditions, the expected coupling products were obtained in moderate to high yields. All reactions were carried out in air and all starting materials were used as supplied without purification.

Benzylation of arenes with benzyl halides synergistically promoted by in situ generated superacid boron trifluoride monohydrate and tetrahaloboric acid

To examine the assembly methodology of diarylmethanes, a benzylation of (hetero)arenes with benzyl halides has been developed and various diarylmethanes were furnished with yields of up to 98% and regioselectivities of up to >99%. The complexation of the by-product halogen hydride with BF3·OEt2 generated the Bronsted acid BF3·HX (HBF3X, X=Cl or Br) in situ to synergistically promote the benzylation.

Superacid BF3-H2O promoted benzylation of arenes with benzyl alcohols and acetates initiated by trace water

A convenient procedure employing simple starting materials benzyl alcohols and acetates as the benzyl donors to assemble a series of diarylalkanes through benzylation of arenes using in situ prepared superacid BF3-H 2O as an efficient promoter has been developed. The beneficial role of water in the reaction has been clarified with combination of control experiments and 11B NMR analysis. This reaction is a self-promoted model, which is triggered by the trace of water and continuously promoted by self released by-product water (or carboxylic acid). A wide range of substrates are investigated and the moderate to excellent yields and the good regioselectivities for secondary benzyl alcohols as well as arenes bearing electron-withdrawing groups have been achieved. As a result, moisture in the reaction system has been utilized as an efficient initiator in all benzylation cases.