Acetanisole


Acetanisole is an aromatic chemical compound with an aroma described as sweet, fruity, nutty, and similar to vanilla. In addition Acetanisole can sometimes smell like butter or caramel.
Acetanisole is found naturally in castoreum, the glandular secretion of the beaver.

Preparation

Acetanisole can be prepared synthetically by Friedel-Crafts acylation of anisole with acetyl chloride:

Application

It is used as a cigarette additive, a fragrance, and a flavoring in food.
  1. In the pharmaceutical sector, acetanisole is used in the synthesis of Benfurodil hemisuccinate.
  2. It can also be used to synthesize basic stimulant compounds such as methyl-synephrine and methyl-hordenine, which were detected in the energy supplement Meltdown®.
  3. In the case of m-acetanisole, this regioisomer was used to synthesize oxyfedrine.
  4. Sulfarlem for treating Parkinson's disease.

    Appearance

At room temperature 4-Methoxyacetophenone is solid, and has a white crystal like structure. Once melted, the white crystals turn into a clear liquid.