| Names | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Preferred IUPAC name 3-Methylbenzoic acid | |||
| Other names meta-Toluic acid m-Methylbenzoic acid meta-Methylbenzoic acid | |||
| Identifiers | |||
3D model (JSmol) | |||
| ChEBI | |||
| ChemSpider | |||
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.002.476 | ||
| EC Number |
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| KEGG | |||
PubChem CID | |||
| UNII | |||
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |||
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| Properties | |||
| C8H8O2 | |||
| Molar mass | 136.15 g/mol | ||
| Density | 1.05 g/cm3, solid | ||
| Melting point | 111 to 113 °C (232 to 235 °F; 384 to 386 K) | ||
| Boiling point | 263 °C (505 °F; 536 K) | ||
| Acidity (pKa) | 4.27 (in water) [2] | ||
| Hazards | |||
| Safety data sheet (SDS) | External MSDS | ||
| Related compounds | |||
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |||
m-Toluic acid, (IUPAC: 3-methylbenzoic acid), is an aromatic carboxylic acid, with formula (CH3)C6H4(COOH). It is an isomer of p-toluic acid and o-toluic acid.
m-Toluic acid is often prepared in the laboratory by refluxing m-xylene with either nitric acid or potassium permanganate, oxidizing one of the methyl groups to COOH.
It serves, among other purposes, as a precursor to DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide), the well-known insect repellent. [3] [4]