CAS 4249-72-3: Benzenemethanol, a-(phenoxymethyl)-

2-Phenoxy-1-phenylethanol

2-Phenoxy-1-phenylethanol is a hydroxylated phenolic compound that has been used in the study of the mechanism of organic reactions. This chemical was first synthesized by reacting 3-mercaptopropionic acid with benzoic anhydride and then heating it to give 2,2'-diphenoxypropane. It is also possible to synthesize this chemical by reacting diphosphine with benzoate in the presence of a homogeneous catalyst. A reaction product can be formed when 2-phenoxyethanol reacts with activated chlorine in high salt solution. The reaction mechanism for this chemical involves the release of hydrogen from the hydroxyl group, which leads to intramolecular hydrogen transfer to form 3-mercaptopropionic acid. This process is reversible, so the reaction can be driven towards either product (2-phenoxyethanol or 3-mercaptopropionic acid).