Xylenes
Xylenes are any one of three isomers of dimethylbenzene, or a combination thereof. All are colorless, flammable liquids composed of a central benzene ring with two methyl groups attached at substituents. They can be applied as precursor chemicals and solvents.
Xylenes are flammable petrochemical products that can be produced via catalytic reforming and coal carbonization during coke production and found in crude oil, gasoline, and aircraft fuel. Xylenes were first isolated from wood tar and named by the French chemist Auguste Cahours.
What Is Xylene?
Xylene, more appropriately called xylenes, refers to any single or combination of the three isomers of dimethylbenzene. The isomeric forms are designated as ortho- (o-), meta- (m-), and para- (p-), a reference to the carbon in the benzene ring to which the two methyl groups are attached.
- o-isomer: 1,2-dimethylbenzene
- m-isomer: 1,3-dimethylbenzene
- p-isomer: 1,4-dimethylbenzene
Xylenes are colorless and can be detected by odor at concentrations as low as 0.08 to 3.7 ppm in air and tasted in water at 0.53 to 1.8 ppm.
Refer to the Certificate of Analysis or the Safety Data Sheet for specific information about xylene density and safety hazards.
What Is Xylene Used For?
Industrial Uses
p-Xylene is a precursor to terephthalic acid and dimethyl terephthalate, used to make polyethylene terephthalate plastic bottles and polyester clothing.
Xylene can be used as a solvent and is a common component of ink, rubber, adhesives, and paint and varnish thinners. Xylenes may be used to clean steel, silicon wafers, and integrated circuits. Medical applications include use as a solvent of dental materials and ear wax.
Laboratory Uses
Xylene can be used with dry ice in baths, to remove oil from microscope objectives, and as a cleaning agent or mounting material in histology procedures.
2,5-dimethylphenyl isothiocyanate, Thermo Scientific™
CAS: 19241-15-7 Molecular Formula: C9H9NS Molecular Weight (g/mol): 163.238 InChI Key: RCBXZRJVMSWGAO-UHFFFAOYSA-N PubChem CID: 140499 IUPAC Name: 2-isothiocyanato-1,4-dimethylbenzene SMILES: CC1=CC(=C(C=C1)C)N=C=S
3,4-Dimethylthiobenzamide, 97%, Thermo Scientific Chemicals
CAS: 58952-03-7 Molecular Formula: C9H11NS Molecular Weight (g/mol): 165.25 MDL Number: MFCD06738326 InChI Key: MGSZKKVFYBQMPF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Synonym: 3,4-dimethyl-thiobenzamide,3,4-dimethylthiobenzamide,3,4-dimethylbenzothioamide,3,4-dimethylbenzene-1-carbothioamide,3,4-dimethyl-thiobenzamid PubChem CID: 20470851 IUPAC Name: 3,4-dimethylbenzenecarbothioamide SMILES: CC1=C(C)C=C(C=C1)C(N)=S
2,5-Dimethylbenzenesulfonyl chloride, 97%, Thermo Scientific™
CAS: 19040-62-1 Molecular Formula: C8H9ClO2S Molecular Weight (g/mol): 204.668 MDL Number: MFCD00024875 InChI Key: FZVZUIBYLZZOEW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Synonym: p-xylene-2-sulfonyl chloride,benzenesulfonyl chloride, 2,5-dimethyl,2,5-dimethylbenzene-1-sulfonyl chloride,2,5-dimethylphenylsulfonyl chloride,2,5-dimethyl-benzenesulfonyl chloride,benzenesulfonylchloride, 2,5-dimethyl,2,5-dimethylphenyl chlorosulfone,acmc-209etq,xylenesulfonylchloride,ksc178m0f PubChem CID: 87910 IUPAC Name: 2,5-dimethylbenzenesulfonyl chloride SMILES: CC1=CC(=C(C=C1)C)S(=O)(=O)Cl
2,6-Dimethylphenyl isothiocyanate, 97%, Thermo Scientific™
CAS: 19241-16-8 Molecular Formula: C9H9NS Molecular Weight (g/mol): 163.238 InChI Key: UULUECCNPPJFBU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Synonym: 2,6-dimethylphenyl isothiocyanate,2,6-xylyl isothiocyanate,2,6-dimethylphenylisothiocyanate,benzene, 2-isothiocyanato-1,3-dimethyl,2-isothiocyanato-1,3-dimethyl-benzene,benzene,2-isothiocyanato-1,3-dimethyl,2,6-dimethylbenzenisothiocyanate,acmc-20ao7z,2,6-dimethylphenyl-isothiocyanate,2,6-dimethylphenyl-1-isothiocyanate PubChem CID: 87976 IUPAC Name: 2-isothiocyanato-1,3-dimethylbenzene SMILES: CC1=C(C(=CC=C1)C)N=C=S
2-Iodo-4,6-dimethylaniline, 98%, Thermo Scientific Chemicals
CAS: 4102-54-9 Molecular Formula: C8H10IN Molecular Weight (g/mol): 247.079 MDL Number: MFCD07779005 InChI Key: ODPOIEACUVQCBZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Synonym: 2,4-dimethyl-6-iodoaniline,2-iodo-4,6-di-methylaniline,benzenamine,2-iodo-4,6-dimethyl PubChem CID: 14040290 IUPAC Name: 2-iodo-4,6-dimethylaniline SMILES: CC1=CC(=C(C(=C1)I)N)C
4-Bromo-2,6-dimethylaniline, 98%, Thermo Scientific Chemicals
CAS: 24596-19-8 Molecular Formula: C8H10BrN Molecular Weight (g/mol): 200.08 MDL Number: MFCD00007826 InChI Key: QGLAYJCJLHNIGJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Synonym: 4-bromo-2,6-xylidine,benzenamine, 4-bromo-2,6-dimethyl,4-bromo-2,6-dimethyl-phenylamine,2-amino-5-bromo-m-xylene,2,6-dimethyl-4-bromoaniline,4-bromo-2,6-dimethylbenzenamine,4-bromo-2,6-dimethylphenylamine,4-bromo-2,6-dimethyl-aniline,4-bromo-2,6-dimethylaniline,4-bromo-2,6-dimethyl-benzenamine PubChem CID: 90549 IUPAC Name: 4-bromo-2,6-dimethylaniline SMILES: CC1=CC(Br)=CC(C)=C1N
o-Xylene, 99%, pure
CAS: 95-47-6 Molecular Formula: C8H10 Molecular Weight (g/mol): 106.17 MDL Number: MFCD00008519 InChI Key: CTQNGGLPUBDAKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Synonym: o-xylene,1,2-dimethylbenzene,ortho-xylene,o-xylol,o-methyltoluene,o-dimethylbenzene,2-xylene,3,4-xylene,benzene, 1,2-dimethyl,o-xylenes PubChem CID: 7237 ChEBI: CHEBI:28063 IUPAC Name: 1,2-xylene SMILES: CC1=CC=CC=C1C
1,4-Dibromo-2,5-dimethylbenzene, 98+%
CAS: 1074-24-4 Molecular Formula: C8H8Br2 Molecular Weight (g/mol): 263.96 MDL Number: MFCD00000091 InChI Key: QENIALCDPFDFHX-UHFFFAOYSA-N Synonym: 2,5-dibromo-p-xylene,benzene, 1,4-dibromo-2,5-dimethyl,p-xylene, 2,5-dibromo,2,5-dibromo-1,4-dimethylbenzene,2,5-dimethyl-1,4-dibromobenzene,2,5-dibromo-4-xylene,2,4-dibromobenzene,p-xylene,5-dibromo,pubchem14829,acmc-1c2tg PubChem CID: 66175 IUPAC Name: 1,4-dibromo-2,5-dimethylbenzene SMILES: CC1=CC(Br)=C(C)C=C1Br
p-Xylene, 99%, pure
CAS: 106-42-3 Molecular Formula: C8H10 Molecular Weight (g/mol): 106.17 MDL Number: MFCD00008556 InChI Key: URLKBWYHVLBVBO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Synonym: p-xylene,para-xylene,1,4-dimethylbenzene,p-methyltoluene,p-dimethylbenzene,p-xylol,benzene, 1,4-dimethyl,4-xylene,chromar,4-methyltoluene PubChem CID: 7809 ChEBI: CHEBI:27417 IUPAC Name: 1,4-xylene SMILES: CC1=CC=C(C)C=C1