m-Cresol

meta-Cresol, also 3-methylphenol, is an organic compound with the formula CH₃C₆H₄(OH). It is a colourless, viscous liquid that is used as an intermediate in the production of other chemicals. It is a derivative of phenol and is an isomer of p-cresol and o-cresol.

Applications

m-Cresol is a precursor to numerous compounds. Important examples include:

• pesticides such as fenitrothion and fenthion
• synthetic vitamin E by methylation to give the 2,3,6-trimethyphenol
• antiseptics, such as amylmetacresol
• a solvent for polymers. For example, polyaniline is cast from a solution of m-cresol to form a polyaniline film with a superior conductivity than polyaniline alone. This phenomenon is known as secondary doping.
• preservatives in some insulins.
• the starting point in the total synthesis of thymol, an important synthetic chemical for regions lacking natural sources of the flavor compound:

C₇H₈O + C₃H₆ ⇌ C₁₀H₁₄O

• the synthesis of dicresulene and policresulen.
• the synthesis of toliprolol, tolamolol & cresatin [122-46-3]