Title: Menthol
CAS Registry Number: 89-78-1
CAS Name: (1a,2b,5a)-5-Methyl-2-(1-methylethyl)cyclohexanol
Additional Names: 3-p-menthanol; l-menthol; hexahydrothymol; peppermint camphor
Molecular Formula: C10H20O
Molecular Weight: 156.27
Percent Composition: C 76.86%, H 12.90%, O 10.24%
Literature References: Obtained from peppermint oil or other mint oils, or prepd synthetically by hydrogenation of thymol. Chromatographic sepn from mint oils: Chang, US 2760993 (1956 to Iowa State College). Toxicity data: P. M. Jenner et al., Food Cosmet. Toxicol. 2, 327 (1964).
Properties: Crystals or granules; peppermint taste and odor. d 0.890. mp 41-43°. bp 212°. nD25 1.458. [a]D18 -50° (10% alc soln). Slightly sol in water; very sol in alcohol, chloroform, ether, petr ether; freely sol in glacial acetic acid, liq petrolatum. LD50 orally in rats: 3180 mg/kg (Jenner). Incompat: Butylchloral hydrate, camphor, phenol, chloral hydrate, Exalgine, betanaphthol, resorcinol or thymol in triturations; potassium permanganate, chromium trioxide, pyrogallol.
Melting point: mp 41-43°
Boiling point: bp 212°
Optical Rotation: [a]D18 -50° (10% alc soln)
Index of refraction: nD25 1.458
Density: d 0.890
Toxicity data: LD50 orally in rats: 3180 mg/kg (Jenner)
Use: In liqueurs, confectionery, perfumery, cigarettes, cough drops, and nasal inhalers.
Therap-Cat: Antipruritic (topical).
Therap-Cat-Vet: Has been used as a mild local anesthetic, antiseptic; internally as a carminative and gastric sedative.
Keywords: Antipruritic. |