CAS 15872-48-7: 4-n-hexadecyloxybenzoic acid

p-Hexadecyloxybenzoic acid is a nitro-substituted benzoic acid. It is a supramolecular compound that exhibits mesomorphic properties at temperatures below -5°C and solidifies to a crystalline structure at higher temperatures. p-Hexadecyloxybenzoic acid has been used as an initiator for copolymerization with other monomers, including styrene to produce polystyrene and phenylmethyl methacrylate to produce poly(phenylmethyl methacrylate). FTIR spectroscopy indicates that the molecule has a number of functional groups, which may explain its ability to copolymerize with other compounds containing similar functional groups. The viscosity of p-Hexadecyloxybenzoic acid increases with increasing temperature, suggesting that it is composed of molecules that are attracted to each other and form long chains. The molecular mechanism of this process is still unknown.