Prehnitene or 1,2,3,4-tetramethylbenzene is an

organic compound Some chemical authorities define an organic compound as a chemical compound that contains a carbon–hydrogen or carbon–carbon bond; others consider an organic compound to be any chemical compound that contains carbon. For example, carbon-co ...

with the formula C₆H₂(CH₃)₄, classified as an

aromatic hydrocarbon Aromatic compounds or arenes are organic compounds "with a chemistry typified by benzene" and "cyclically conjugated." The word "aromatic" originates from the past grouping of molecules based on odor, before their general chemical properties were ...

. It is a flammable colorless liquid which is nearly insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. It occurs naturally in

coal tar Coal tar is a thick dark liquid which is a by-product of the production of coke and coal gas from coal. It is a type of creosote. It has both medical and industrial uses. Medicinally it is a topical medication applied to skin to treat psoria ...

. Prehnitene is one of three isomers of tetramethylbenzene, the other two being

isodurene Isodurene or 1,2,3,5-tetramethylbenzene is an organic compound with the formula C6H2(CH3)4, classified as an aromatic hydrocarbon. It is a flammable colorless liquid which is nearly insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. It occurs na ...

(1,2,3,5-tetramethylbenzene) and

durene Durene, or 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene, is an organic compound with the formula C6H2(CH3)4. It is a colourless solid with a sweet odor. The compound is classified as an alkylbenzene. It is one of three isomers of tetramethylbenzene, the other two ...

(1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene). It is a relatively easily oxidized benzene derivative, with E_1/2 of 2.0 V vs NHE.

Production

Industrially, prehnitene can be isolated from the

reformed Reform is beneficial change. Reform, reformed or reforming may also refer to: Media * ''Reform'' (album), a 2011 album by Jane Zhang * Reform (band), a Swedish jazz fusion group * ''Reform'' (magazine), a Christian magazine Places * Reform, Al ...

fraction of

oil refineries An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where petroleum (crude oil) is transformed and refined into products such as gasoline (petrol), diesel fuel, asphalt base, fuel oils, heating oil, kerosene, liquefied pet ...

. It may also be produced by

methylation Methylation, in the chemistry, chemical sciences, is the addition of a methyl group on a substrate (chemistry), substrate, or the substitution of an atom (or group) by a methyl group. Methylation is a form of alkylation, with a methyl group replac ...

of toluene, xylenes and the

trimethylbenzenes The trimethylbenzenes constitute a group of substances of aromatic hydrocarbons, which structure consists of a benzene ring with three methyl groups (–CH3) as a substituent. Through their different arrangement, they form three structural iso ...

hemimellitene 1,2,3-Trimethylbenzene is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH(CH). Classified as an aromatic hydrocarbon, it is a flammable colorless liquid. It is nearly insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. The compound occurs na ...

and pseudocumene.

References

Alkylbenzenes C4-Benzenes {{Hydrocarbons