DURENE (1.2.4.5 tetramethyl

See also:

• BENZENE, C6H6

benzene) C6H2(

See also:

• CH3

CH3)4  , a hydro-carbon which has been recognized as a constituent of coal-tar . It may be prepared by the action of methyl iodide on brompseudocumene or 4.6 dibrom metaxylene, in the presence of sodium; or by the action of methyl chloride on toluene, in the presence of anhydrous aluminium chloride . It crystallizes in plates, having a camphor-like smell, melting at 79-8o° C. and boiling at 189-191° C . It is easily soluble in alcohol, ether and benzene, and sublimes slowly at ordinary temperature . On oxidation with chromic acid mixture, it is completely decomposed into carbon dioxide and acetic acid; nitric acid oxidizes it to durylic and cumidic acids [CBH2•(CH3)2•(000H)2] .